Moving a Pleco

Cichlids4Ever · 12-16-2006, 03:22 PM

Here is my situation.

I have a pleco that went from a 30 gallon cichlid tank to a 75 gallon cichlid tank, and now they are tearing him up.
Now, I want to move him to my 30 gallon tropical fish tank.

Will he survive the temp change? he is in 82 and will be in 78 degrees.
Will he survive the fact that the 30 gallon doesn't have salt or buffers??
He'll be going from 8.2 PH to 7.2 PH and soft water.

Thanks

gm333 · 12-16-2006, 07:11 PM

Put him in a 5gallon bucket with the tank water he is in now, acclimate him for at least an hour, he should be fine in that tank. Just make sure to acclimate him, he will adjust.

Tommy Gun · 12-16-2006, 09:08 PM

Totally agree with GM.

What type of pleco? I know you might be able to offer him some hiding places that he cichlids cannot find him in. For example, I have a hollow tree ceramic decoration that my bristlenose pleco and my big male yellow lab cohabitate within. The pleco sticks to the top of the decoration since he is not as 'up/down oriented' as a cichlid is. I dont know how better to explain what I mean, except to say that a pleco is much more likely to be found upside down where as a cichlid is always going to be swimming with its dorsal fin pointed to the top of the tank. And yes, my fish pick on my pleco ("speedy"), but he has plenty of places to hide all throughout the tank in which the cichlids are less apt to see him or follow him.

Cichlids4Ever · 12-17-2006, 07:33 AM

TG...
I also have a ceramic driftwood where he stays but the cichlids go in there and force him out. He hasn't eaten in a long time also. They keep stealing his algae wafers.

I did move him. I did what gm333 said. When he finally got into the 30 gallon, he seemed like nothing changed...He ate right away and I think he'll do better where he is now. Just worried about dropping from a high buffered PH??

I don't know how to better explain what type of fish he is except he is what I call a sucker fish. A Plecostomus. He should grow nicely in the 30 gallon. I only have some swords, a few Reg Von Rio Tetra, and some Bloodfins.
Nice peaceful tank, unlike my cichlid tank with Auratus!!!