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About ten days ago, I bought a bulldog pleco for my tank. It's in a 29 gallon with a betta, six lemon tetras, and six polystictus cories. Since I bought the pleco, it has stayed in hiding almost all the time, except three or four times when I have seen it on the glass. I haven't seen it eat, but it seems to be fairly healthy. I know it's afraid of me, because if it's sticking out of it's hiding place as I approach, it darts in. Is there a reason for the fish's behavior? Since I haven't seen it eat, I'm worried about it. I went back to the store where I bought it, and the other bulldog plecos are out in the open, just doing their thing. Someone please help me here. My water parameters are all normal, and my other fish are fine. I just don't understand it...

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

Plecs will hide as they are nocturnal, if you get a very dim light and you sit in the room at night and make as little noise as possible you would most likely see it swimming around. It would help if you fed it at night as it would give it an advantage to get some food whereas in the day it will not come out to eat rarely.
Have fun!
(edit) The reason it aint out in the open is the store probably doesn`t have a good hiding place but in your tank there are plenty of them and it has found one

If your store has a hiding place for the fish one of the plecs has probably claimed it so the others are afraid to go in its territory

Last edited by Perky at 25-Sep-2004 15:56

I guess it just depends on the nature of that particular plec. My bulldogs and albino ancistrus will take bloodworms from my hand, while my starry ancistrus, which I've had for 5 years, and my gold nugget dart under wood whenever I do so much as put my hand in the tank.

Well, I guess I'll have to assume it's his personality, or lack of one, that causes him to hide so much. I take heart in the fact that he is not dead yet. Well, if he does die (*gasp!*), I'll know why...

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

Sirbooks... Two out of three of my BN's never come out during the day, only at night. They say if at night you put a red light bulb in, they will come out and you can see them. Sometimes during the day my large male comes out but hides as soon as I walk into the room. I believe this to be normal since they are indeed nocturnal and like what was said before...at the lfs they don't have anywhere to hide. I'm sure once he's been in the tank for awhile you will see him a little bit more...

Well, problem solved... I just discovered it dead. It looked like it had been dead for a little while, so I assume it died last night. I guess my fears about it having not eaten were true... It wouldn't eat from a cucumber I put in, for crying out loud! Thanks for your help anyways...

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

AAAAWWWWWW!!!! *sticks out pouty lip*

I'm sorry about your lil fishy....

aaawww no. Thats a real surpirse to me though, it sounded like it was acting normal for Plecs. I dont think you did anything wrong so I wouldnt worry too much. Sorry to hear of the loss