Plecos Outdoors in the Winter???

T

tig38464

AC Members
Oct 21, 2004
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I have a large pleco that I keep in my outdoor fish pond. I was told when I purchased it that they will not survive during the winter due to the cold so I took it out during last winter so I wouldn't lose it and placed it in our indoor aquarium (10 gal)until this spring. Now it has gotten so big over this summer that it is not going to fit into that same aquarium and I am trying to figure out if they truely cannot survive outside. I live in the Lower Middle Tennessee area and we normally don't get really bad cold weather. My biggest issue is that I'm trying to avoid having to buy a much bigger aquarium in my home (expense is the issue) and was wondering if anyone had any information on this and if they cannot survive outdoors, & how I can house my pleco indoors a cheaper way if so.
Thanks

Owner of :
Koi, Shubunkins, Goldfish, Fantails, & Plecos
2 Guinea Pigs
4 Hermit Crabs
1 Long Haired Chihuahua
 
No

I've been told they would not survive outdoors in Houston, and we hardly ever get real freezes.

Check the catfish forums, I think there is a minimum water temp that is established, certainly under 55, probably even under 70, but I'm just guessing.
 
I dont know the size of your pond, but they do requiere a minimum temp of 18.c or 64 F. Depending oh the size of your pond you can add some sub stainless stell heaters 500watts each (again it depends on the size of your pond) to keep a stable temp during winter. If you add a couple or many of these heaters dont lay them in the bottom of your pond, the should be placed in the middle part. But it depends on hoy much you are willing to spend on electricity bills, though there are other options like gas heaters.
 
Thank you all for your help, I appreciate it. My pleco is approx. 8-10 inches long now, and my pond is a 175 gallon pond also. And my electric bill is already high enough lol....so I believe I am going to go with the Rubbermaid route if I don't find a reasonable tank within the next week or two. I've had two years invested in this pleco and I an NOT going to chance losing it now. Again, Thanks for all your help.
 
You could also get a plastic kiddy pool if you have the space for it. You should be able to get a small one for like 5-10 bucks.
 
My freind had a outdoor pond built and
they had a bunch of koi in the pond, well
his older brother had bought a pleco and
put it in there well a few years had gone by
and they had decided to move out of there
house so the koi had basically died off but
when they finally drained the pond low and
behold guess what they found about foot long
pleco at the bottom of the pond near the filter
guess he made it through all those years about
5 he lived longer than any fish that they had in
there... Oh we live in L.A. so the winters arent
that bad but it can be bitterly cold .. :soda:
 
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