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Thanks Cup, that's why I was worried...it seems strange.

His little belly looks plump. It doesn't look sunken in at all. He got down on the gravel after lights out last night and I think I saw him eating on one of the carnivore pellets I put in there for him. He ran off and and hid last night when I was trying to fish out some platy babies. He was back up by the heater this morning when I turned on the light, but he went and hid behind the driftwood for a little while. When I left the house he was back up at by heater, but as I got close to look at him he sucked up as close to the heater as he could get, so he is responding. I think he feels more hidden right there because the net breeder in there casts a shadow over that whole area. He alternates between there, the driftwood and the shipwreck. Could he be cold or searching for more current?

Where can I get a heater guard? I need one for my frog tank too.

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~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

Awesome....thanks, I appreciate the link!!!

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~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

Here's a link for heater guards.

http://www.thatpetplace.com/Products/KW/heater%2cguards/Class//T1/F54BD+0171+0143/EDP/8176/Itemdy00.aspx


Jim


Last edited by OldTimer at 30-Dec-2005 09:08

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Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody. -- Mark Twain

Cool....I would love to go to those rivers you just mentioned and see these fish in the wild...or at least see the area they come from. Thanks for the info Cup...you should submit that to planetcatfish and here at FP!!!

Scribble Lips was out on the gravel eating last night after lights out so I think he's okay, he's just a weird Hypancistrus. He thinks he's hidden up there by the heater....at least I can see him now!

Where can I get a heater guard?

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~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

L-318 is a relatively large species of hypancistrus from the Rio Jari in the state of Para, Brazil. There is, to my knowledge, no holotypic information on the species. Uncommonly exported, most shippers, unable to identify this species (usually as a bycatch of L-316) label it as L-333,a more distantly related species from the Rio Xingu. In the wild, it feeds primarily on aquatic crustaceans, fry of other fish, and, if applicable, freshwater sponges. They have large eyes and are found in light blackwater/clearwater with moderate flow.

Last edited by Cup_of_Lifenoodles at 30-Dec-2005 12:53

I can't find any info on L-318. There is none listed at planetcatfish.

I think "Scribble Lips" is okay. When I went home for luch he was at his spot by the heater, but the more I stood there and stared athim he got antsy and swam down to the driftwood. Little booger! I worry about my "babies" a lot....especially him. I love him and don't want anything to happen to him.

His little tummy is def. fat, so he must be eating after lights out. If anyone can find ANY info about L-318 please let me know.

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~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

I've found my L-316 to be very hidey. Though they are from the same river as 318, they do tend to be a bit more expensive, though more common, primarily because 318 are so often falsely identified as L-333. In fact, I purchased mine freom blue as well for 35 bucks a piece (discounted due to aquabid auction). If you really want to be sure, there are several anatomical features of 316 you should be aware of, those being the head shape and eye size/placement. Both are completely unique in appearence when view in juxtaposition with other hypancistrus expect L-174. Given your previous pictures, the large eye and sloping forehead of your fish leads me to believe that it's actually 318.

If he's eating, he will be fine & eventually he will come out & roam around, especially when the lights are off.


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I just read something interesting about the L-316 on planetcatfish that may explain it . It says that the L-316 stays out in the tank more than other Hypancistrus species. http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/loricari/hypancis/1055_F.PHP

Maybe that's why is not hiding anymore.....here's the quote from the above referenced link: "A good community pleco, once settled (3-4 weeks)it will be seen during the day a bit more than many exotic plecos."

I've had this little fellow about that long so that would make total sense. Perhaps since we decided that this fish is more likely a L-316 or L-318 that would explain it. Whaddya think Cup?

Last edited by crazyred at 29-Dec-2005 11:39

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~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

Okay, I have a thread "New baby on the way" where my previously thought L-129 was actually identified as a L-318 by Cup of Lifenoodles.....anyway, it's a Hypancistrus. I'm now worried about him. He's not hiding anymore but hanging around up by the heater and sometimes out on some driftwood. They're supposed to hide!

I don't see anything wrong. He doesn't seem to be breathing hard or gasping at the surface....just hanging around sucked up to the back galss near the heater. He moved this morning when the heater came on, but he went right back there later. It also happens to be where the outflow of the HOB is. Is this normal?

Tank parameters are as they should be: 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, 10-15 ppm nitrates, pH 7.2, tank temp. 76 degrees. This is totally normal for my tank. Any thoughts on this? Where are you Cup? Is my rare baby okay? I'm worried.

Here's a pic of where he is. Forgive the net breeder in the pic...my platies have spawned.



Last edited by crazyred at 28-Dec-2005 13:17

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~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

Frankly, hypancistrus aren't usually found hanging on the glass unless the fish is feeling uneasy, at least IME. As long as he's got a heavyset belly that's nice and plump (see if you can take a peek at it), you *should* be fine. As is the general rule for most smaller loricariids, if they DONT run like hell when you pop in front of the tank, the fish are probably unhealthy. My fish do equate my hand with food, so every once in a while, I end up touching them while feeding. That's not uncommon. Boy, can a 6" fish throw up a lot of sand. Personally, I don't think you've got a problem unless the fish isn't responding at all. Also, you might want to splurge for a heater guard .

Last edited by Cup_of_Lifenoodles at 29-Dec-2005 00:15

My plec never hides, and he's not nocturnal, either. Guess they don't always read the rules on their own behavior ...

lol i see my pleco like twice a month if im lucky or if i creap up to the tank real slow while the room is also dark, then i might be able to see its stripety tail

although i do see my clown pleco almost every day

good luck

So far I see nothing that sets off alarm bells other than he's quit hiding. Strange, I know, but hiding is normal for Hypancistrus. Oh well, he looks plump and healthy so maybe I can put this one to bed.

Thanks y'all.

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~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

I agree with Sirbooks--sounds normal--just make sure he's eating and doesn't show any signs of disease. Nice fish!

"I am a believer in punctuality, though it makes me very lonely" EV Lucas

Thanks for your quick reply sirbrooks! I think he's eating okay. It's hard to tell with Hypancistrus....he's so nocturnal he does all his partying after lights out (all lights, even lights in the living room) His little belly looks plump. He doesn't look like he's starving. I think you might be right....maybe he's just become more comfortable in my tank. He moves away and hides if you shine a light on him or something, but not if you get close to the tank.

He "let" me pet him the other day during my weekly water change. He was out on the gravel and I touched his little back. He swam a way rather quickly, but not before I got to cop a good feel.

I'm just nervous about this fish I guess....he's high dollar and hard to come by.

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~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

Sounds normal to me. I've seen other plecos that liked to hide behind the heater (Peckoltia and Baryancistrus species, if it helps any) and they seemed just fine. Does it seem to be terrified of you if you're near the tank? If not, maybe it just feels comfortable moving around and is used to the tank. If the fish is eating and shows no outward symptoms of stress or disease, I wouldn't be worried.

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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."

Sorry....pic was too big here we go

crazyred attached this image:

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~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."