What Kind of Pleco Is This?

parrotfish100

parrotfish100

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Feb 22, 2004
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I just got a Plecostomous from a freind (along with other fish, and the tank) and was wondering if you could identify it for me... it might be common, but I don't know. It has blue eyes, and is black. Lol, I know its not descriptive, but I don't have any pictures right now. I will try to get some later on today or tomorrow. Any ideas?
 
If the fish is truly a blue eyed panaque, and not a cochliodon, be sure to treat it carefully. They aren't being collected, and haven't been for a few years, due to a spill of gas in the river where they are collected. The only other sources for collecting them are under guerrilla control and guides and collectors won't risk it for any amount of money, I'm told.

Barbie
 
I think thats the one! I managed to get a picture, but its not too good... see? The blue eyes aren't as bright as the ones in the picture above mine, but I think its the same one... mine isn't a very good picture; I don't think you can even see the eyes in my crappy pic... but they do have blue

Its also a really big pic, so it will take a bit to load... but heres the URL from a freinds site... mine wouldn't upload it

http://www.torsitano.com/brad/Pleco.jpg

I got it from my english teacher, and she's had it for about 8-9 years... That may be why its blue eyes are duller than the other professional picture.

And about the shell, its been in there for years, and it hasn't harmed any of the fish yet, but I am still going to take it out. (I have heard that real shells harm freshwater fish)

I will take very special care of it... I'm afraid that it will die soon, since its so old, though. Its in a 50 gallon tank, with other fish, but they are all afraid of it, and leave it alone... :p Funny story about its name: My teacher's dad named it Frank after Frank Sinatra, because of its blue eyes :laugh:



Edit- Heres another pic I found of it... and it says that HEALTHY specimens have bright blue eyes, and their eyes are not sunken... so I am thinking that maybe mine is not really in top-condition, so that might be why the eyes are dull

http://www.scotcat.com/factsheets/panaque_cf_suttonorum.htm
 
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Try doing 30% water changes every day for a week or two and feeding it an algae wafer about 1/2 hour after the lights go out. The fact that it is distressed is not a good sign at all. These fish can easily live 20 years, so I would not just write it off as being old, but try to correct whatever environmental factors aren't agreeing with it. If you aren't able to do that, maybe check around for someone near you that would be willing to take on the challenge? It would be a shame to lose one of these when they are no longer collecting them.

Barbie
 
So it is one?! I really need to get quite a few things to keep up the tank... I was suprised that they lived this long in the conditions:shake: The filter is so old, they might not make filter cartridges for it anymore (its a canister filter), there is practically no surface movement at all, so I am going out soon to buy a powerhead. I am also going to buy another filter, because it would be a shame if ANY of these beautiful fish went to waste:( And like you said, I will buy some good Algae Wafers for it to eat.

Thanks a lot for all of your help, I really appreciate it!:)
 
To be honest, all I could see in your picture was a black blob. I have no idea what type of fish you have, I'm going by your description of it is all.

While its very important to get the filtration up to snuff, its even more important to do 30% water changes on the tank. Preferable at least weekly. More volume than that can distress the fish with changing conditions, but less and the nitrates will build up and cause him problems also. The water changes are VERY important. You might try to get a few more pictures of him, also.

Barbie
 
Lol, ok. I will try to get better pictures... the blue in its eye doesn't look all that bright, so it might be hard to get in a pic. It looks almost exactly like the one in the one from the site, but its eyes aren't as bright
 
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