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Plecostomus Tips

By: Stephen Broy

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Plecostomus or Hypostomus plecostomus belong to the family Loricariidae. Loricariidae means armored catfish named so because the armor-like longitudinal rows of scutes that cover the upper parts of their bodies. This armor is actually composed boney platelets as opposed to the scales that are normally associated with fish.

The taxonomical designation plecostomus only describes a single species of armored catfish within the family Loricariidae. There are, however, over 50 scientifically classified and many more as yet unclassified species within this family native to the tropical and subtropical regions of the lower western hemisphere. All have the shared trait of ingesting algae as part of their dietary intake and have become known world wide as algae eaters. Plecostomus, plecos or plecs, although not scientifically accurate, are used interchangeably when referring to these algae eating armored catfish.

These fish will actively seek out and eat algae at the microscopic level before it has a chance to develop into a cleaning and maintenance problem. It is little wonder that they have become one of the all time favorite among freshwater aquarists. The fact that they look like a throwback from the era of dinosaurs undoubtedly contributes to their global appeal. Their presence on Earth does indeed predate the emergence of mammals. A prehistoric fish that helps keep you aquarium squeaky clean, what more could an aquarium owner ask for?

Plecos are also frequently referred to as suckermouths. This is understandable if you have ever seen one hang the full weight of its body from its mouth on the side of an aquarium. In nature, these fish inhabit a wide range of ecosystems but prefer the swift moving waters of rain driven rivers and streams. Their suction cup mouths allow them to remain virtually immobile in the strongest torrential runoffs. This same suctioning ability is one of the most effective means of taking in organic debris from the bottoms of streams and riverbeds ever produced by nature.

If you go to buy any fish that is labeled Plecostomus, Plecos or Algae Eater make sure to take its estimated adult size into consideration. The actual species belonging to the name plecostomus can reach an excess of 2 feet in length. They routinely grow to a foot or more in the confines of an aquarium. The adult size of the various species sold under these blanket terms varies considerably. Some are as small as two inches when fully grown. Make sure to choose one that the size of your aquarium will accommodate.

Loricariids are bottom dwelling creatures. They are solitary species. They will have little or no interaction with the other members of their community. This makes them excellent candidates for community tanks. Naturally, they will stray from the bottom of an aquarium to perform routine maintenance. Even then they will concentrate on the removal of algae and not on the fish around them.

When it comes to the bottom of an aquarium, the plecos is king of its turf. Most armored catfish species are highly territorial. Of course this can be said for the vast majority of bottom dwellers. It is inadvisable to try to keep more than bottom dweller in an aquarium.

Armored catfish are nocturnal by nature. They feed at night and rest during the day. If your aquarium has rock work or hollow décor the plecos will pick a spot to call home. This is where he will spend his days, out from under the bright aquarium lights. If you are not considerate enough to provide your aquatic friends with adequate hiding place a plecos will settle down on the bottom of the aquarium to sleep until it is time to awake and start foraging.

One of the common misconceptions about plecos is that they live on algae. This is understandable given the amount of time they spend hanging off of aquarium walls. It is also incorrect. Loricariids are scavenger fish. Scavengers survive by feeding on the decomposing organic matter left behind from a well balanced ecosystem. Hence the term bottom feeder.

Plecos are one of the most self sufficient fish you can have in an aquarium. This is easy to take for granted. It is inadvisable to assume that foraging will provide your plecos with enough nutrients to keep it healthy and fit. This is especially true if you own a larger member of the plecos family.

There are many products on the market designed to address bottom dwellers’ dietary needs. Sinking pellets and wafers will help guarantee that your plecos is getting enough to eat. Friuts and vegetables make an excellent dietary supplement. They will scarf down leafy veggies like spinach and lettuce without hesitation. Skewering little chucks of broccoli, squash or cauliflower to a safety pin and letting it sink is like inviting your pleco to an all you can eat buffet.

Many of the commercially available freshwater species are tank bred rather than captured from the wild. Attempts to do so with plecos have failed. A good percentage of plecos provided by the aquarium industry are mass produced in fish ponds and commercial hatcheries in Florida, Bangkok, Singapore and Hong Kong. The rest come form eggs gathered from riverbeds in South and Central America and then hatched on fish farms for export.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

No freshwater aquarium is complete without an algae eater. Who wouldn’t want a janitor that works for its meals. If you enjoyed this article, learn more up to date info on your favorite freshwater aquarium fish by check out our fish buying guide.

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