Trevor Stenson wrote:

I checked out the aquaria faqs and bookmarked it. I'll try not to ask
redundant questions in future, although it might take awhile to go
through everything. Looks like a very useful site and since it is
written, I'm assuming, at least partially by group members I feel pretty
safe taking its advice. There are some many sites and opinions on the
web - it is hard to know what is good advice and what is complete bunkum.

So thanks for that.

As for the Pleco, my final word on it is that I'm going to slowly
reintroduce algae tablets and other food as necessary to make sure I'm
not underfeeding him. I got a good look at him in the open light and my
wife and I are convinced he is indeed a leopard Gibbie. He looks
beautiful and healthy and we are going to keep him until it is no longer
healthy for him or the "tank" for him to stay. I hope after that to
find a good and "better home and garden for him". As for a replacement
aglae-eater I will then try to get a nice clown pleco who can handle the
algae but not overgrow the tank.

Thanks again for the advice (a shout out to you and everyone else that
took time to respond).

You're welcome. Glad you figured out what fish you have. I hope you
can keep him happy until you fall in love with him and buy him a 70
gallon tank. ;-) Your gibbie will need a lot of food as he grows.
Watch his belly when he sucks onto the glass. It should always be flat
or slightly rounded. If his belly ever looks sunken, he needs more to eat.

I'd recommend an Ancistrus spp. (bushy nose pleco) rather than a clown
pleco for algae. Ancistrus grow to around 4-6" depending on the species
and are hard-working algae eaters. Many at fish stores are farmed
aquarium hybrids and very hardy.

The problem with "clown pleco" is that the common name is applied to a
lot of similar looking fish with different behaviors and dietary
requirements. The L168 swarvegorilla recommends is one that eats algae
well. Unfortunately, "clown pleco" also includes Peckoltias like L305,
L121, and P. vittata. Peckoltia spp. are omnivorous and not
particularly good algae eaters. The Peckoltia I had not only failed to
eat algae, but hid constantly. Panaque maccus is also commonly sold as
a clown pleco, and it is a wood eating fish that requires driftwood in
its tank.

The FAQs are quite good. The lighting section is a bit dated now
because it was written before compact fluorescent fixtures were common.
All of the basic fishkeeping information is still correct - the
nitrogen cycle hasn't changed. ;-)

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