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Anonymous
My Pleco keeps wanting to get into my Filter. He's escaped accidentally while doing this once before and it was only with luck that I got home in time to put him back in his tank.

How the hell can I keep him out of it? Maybe he's not getting enough algae in the tank?
>> Anonymous
plecos generally need some supplements, if you have something like a 20 gallon tank

but that isnt probably the reason for the behavior. It could be a response to poor water quality (the creature is trying to escape it), or because it wants a place to hide (put some good hiding rocks or plants in).
>> Anonymous
Sorry if I seem like a retard but how is a 5 inch pleco going to get into a filter and how is this resulting in him almost escaping? We have a 35gal with an internal power filter and nothing bigger than a baby shrimp or fry would be able to get into it, it just isn't possible.

>I don't know if it's for the rapid water movement because he'll sit at the rim where the outake flows back into the tank with his mouth on the edge and little by little try and force his way in.

Ah. Rubber band a little scrap of cloth over the outflow? I'm guessing this is an external filter but a return pipe a 5 inch fish can climb into?!
>> Anonymous
>>198542
Actually that sounds like typical behavior for river dwelling plecs, and is typical of alligator plecs to, since they live in rivers as well. In the wild, they would inch their way over rocks jsut like you described to get to other, calmer areas of a river or stream.

Anyways, as for a solution, I've had the same exact problem. I had an HOB filter, and just covered the outtake with a wide mesh I got that came with some vegetables I bought. Worked like a charm.
If you can't manage that, I' try to lower the water level a bit so he can't get high enough to jump out.

Now, I'm assuming your aquarium has some kind of cover over it. If you don't then, yeah, get a cover:)
>> Anonymous
>>198543
No it's a Hang on the back filter, 40 gallon capacity Whisper filter, a basic one you can find anywhere. The outake hole is a 4x1" gap that lets the water in like a waterfall as with most common HOB filters.

I honestly don't know how he escaped the first time because there's only such a small gap in the roof for the outake for him to get out of and that's the only way he could've possibly escaped.

I put a small sheet of plastic with holes in it over the gap but he's managed to SOMEHOW move it out of the way and get in again. I just wish I knew what was attracting him into the filter, maybe the algae inside?
>> Anonymous
>>198545
Oh yeah of course, I have Bichirs and a Gar in my tank so naturally yeah.

I guess it sounds logical for the Pleco to do that, he isn't stressed or anything at all he's always done perfect and eats and leaves foot long poop strings all over the tank (lulz) so I guess I'm just going to lower the water level a bit that should help, thanks.
>> Anonymous
>>198546

>>198542
>>Actually that sounds like typical behavior for river dwelling plecs, and is typical of alligator plecs to, since they live in rivers as well. In the wild, they would inch their way over rocks jsut like you described to get to other, calmer areas of a river or stream.

I think this anon has it right. This pet store I worked at had a long rectangle of small betta tanks over one of the fish tanks with plecs in it. Those plecs would wiggle up tiny stream of water flowing down the wall from the betta tank and get behind them. Sometimes they'd even get on top of the betta tanks themselves and sit there looking dumb. "Oh god, what do I do now?"
>> Anonymous
>>198546
It could be that it is the algae inside in which case you'll be able to see if feeding something else for him helps to curb it. Sink some veggies. We have a sinking food too that everyone will eat but it sinks quickly enough to get past the greedy swine nearer the surface. Also I've not any experience but I've seen plenty of pictures of those 'vacation feeding blocks' covered in happy looking p-lo's.

I'm more inclined to believe that it is just in his nature to explore currents like that. His is most likely wired up to find the calm part past the strong flow to hide in, or he thinks he's found the most awesome cave ever.

We've used metal bulldog clips to clip the condensation tray to the support bars in the past. We've also got a hood though so it may look a bit ugly for you if you don't have one.
>> Anonymous
Hm, yeah that all makes sense.

>>198549

He did that to me when he escaped a while back. He managed to crawl around on my carpet and then crawled out from underneath the tank stand onto my shoe all like, "clean me, am drty."

>>198551
Yeah I'm going to get him some neat stuff today for him to munch on. Yesterday was my fish's fasting day so the Pleco for one will be hungry.


I got one more question though, from what I gather, Can Plecos breathe air? Or can they just survive out of water for longer than most fish? (Always wondered that)
>> Anonymous
>>198552
Some can't, Most of the commonly kept ones can. Chances are if you see your pleco occasionally surface for a gulp of air, it can.
>> Anonymous
<3 Pleco!
>> Anonymous
>>198555
Awesome, thankyou!
>> Anonymous
put pantyhose over it
my betta once tried to swim up the filter so i covered it with panty hose
i have a HOB filter so i know what you're talking about i think it should work