Austin {Aquarist}

I recently got a pleco for my 25 gallon cause I mean come on no comunity tank is complete without a pleco . but I might as wel not even have him because I never see him. He is completely nocturnal! the only time I get to see him is if I wake up at night with a flaslight and peer into the tank and he will b foraging for food in the gravel but even then when he sees me he dashes away into the java moss :[[[

does anyone have any suggestions for coaxing him out?? he is about 2 and a half inches just to let ya know D

Barbrella

What kind of aquascaping do you have? The more hiding places a pleco has, the more secure it will feel and the more you'll see it.
Shining a flashlight on it at night won't help!

What kind of pleco is this, and what are you feeding?

Austin {Aquarist}

I have a plactic jar thing over in the corner with a big wad of java moss and he hides in the jar all day long

he is just a common pleco I think

and I know I shouldn't look at him wid a flashlight but I just want to see him : \

COBettaCouple

LED book lights would be better for looking at him at night.

Barbrella

You do know that a common pleco can grow well over a foot long? You can't keep one in a 25 gal. tank.

Austin {Aquarist}

everyone tells me that and I do know that!!!
I will sell him when he gets to big

Barbrella

OH - guess I just wonder why someone would get a fish they know they can't keep. It would be much better to get a small pleco that can stay in your tank.

People are always trying to get rid of big common plecos. It's not really easy to do. You may be able to give it to a petstore, but I doubt they'll pay you anything.

Sabi

Give him time. After a while, SLOWLY, he will start coming out during the day. Not as much as other fish but a bit, hopefully.

Austin {Aquarist}

I id a lot more planning than you guys think though

I do know a fish store that will take pretty much any fish and even pay you half of the price that they would sell it for

susitna-flower

My first common pleco was in a 55 gallon tank, which was also too small for a common......I knew I HAD to get rid of him when the poo was twice the length of the tank, and hanging all over all the decorations, I KID YOU NOT!

This HOG wasn't shy a bit...I would feed the fish and he would fly out and flip upside down and suck all the food off the surface of the tank before the other fish could eat!

He went to the store and I got $9 for him....and was happy to do it.

Now I research my plecoes before I get them, and try not to get anything that will get over 6-8"

It is so much easier on our emotions to fall in love with something we can keep for a long time....better not to get something we know we will have to give up..