Growth rate of snowball pleco

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DanDman18
 
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Growth rate of snowball pleco

by DanDman18

I bought a snowball pleco about a year ago, and it still has not grown at all! it is obviosly eating or else it would be dead, so i know its not lack of food. Its about 1.5" long and i am pretty confused as to why it is not growing, I feed them vegetables and algae disks, as well as all the algae it could want on the glass. Any ideas are apreciated.


natalie265
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by natalie265

Is it getting any protein in its diet?


DanDman18
 
Posts: 115
Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2011 12:56 am

by DanDman18

Well, i don't truely know. I do feed my fish newlife spectrum which has protein, as well as bloodworms, however i do not know if it eats them, usually he is hiding.


natalie265
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by natalie265

Well, it sounds like you are offering him a nice, balanced diet. Any problems with your water quality? Do you test for ammonia, nitrates and nitrites? What size tank is he in?


DanDman18
 
Posts: 115
Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2011 12:56 am

by DanDman18

Ammonia is always 0 sometimes maybe .125, nitrite always 0 and nitrate between 20-40 and in a 125gal


natalie265
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by natalie265

Are there other fish in the tank who are aggressive eaters who might not be leaving much food behind? The only thing i can think of is that he isn't getting proper nutrition. Putting sinking pellets in the tank after lights out, or using a turkey baster to funnel food directly to the pleco might help.


DanDman18
 
Posts: 115
Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2011 12:56 am

by DanDman18

Well, the other fish are african cichlids, so yeah, its with very aggresive eaters, but there is always plenty of food if it wanted any, there are also about 10 other plecos, but as i said there is plenty of food, and i do drop in vegies or algae wafers at night. Problem with directly feeding him, is since he is so small i can never find him unless he if briefly not hiding.


natalie265
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by natalie265

Well Dan, i'm stumped. But you have some beautiful fish! I really like the two peacocks that you have featured on your page. I'm actually really impressed with how knowledgeable you seem, especially considering you are only 17. You're going to have it all figured out by the time you're my age!


DanDman18
 
Posts: 115
Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2011 12:56 am

by DanDman18

Well, thank you for the compliment, i finally found him and was able to scoop him out and i could tell he has been eating a lot becuase it looked like his stomach was going to burst, so i don't know either. oh and sorry about your betta
027fe-DSCN0001.jpg


natalie265
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Joined: Sat Nov 01, 2008 9:48 pm

by natalie265

Thanks for the condolences.

Growth rate of snowball pleco

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