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Re: Farowellas vs. Peckoltias



Hey all,

I originally sent this directly to healer, but thought I'd shoot it along
here for general info (general criticism? :-), since it _is_ related to 
planted tanks, and getting rid of any algae in them.

Cheers...

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From young Fri Jul 18 10:40:58 1997
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 1997 10:40:51 -0700
From: Shawn Young <young>
To: healer at global_california.com
Subject: Re: Farowellas vs. Peckoltias
Cc: young

Hi there,

I keep both farlowellas (4 of them; 3 different sp.) and a peckoltia
(pulcher?), in the same 55g tank. 

I have had good experience with both, but that is not the case with e.g. my 
father, and a few others who tried keeping farlows when they were new to 
aquaria. 

Farlowellas are notoriously finicky and sensitive, but they will latch onto 
anything, including roots, leaves, glass. Then they stay put for significant
periods of time... Primary upside to them is that they do not harm plants
(and they are cool to look at:-) 

(N.B. By finicky, I mean wrt water conditions and any "major" changes to 
their environment.)

Peckoltias, on the other hand, will rarely be seen on glass or leaves, if 
they are given a decent sized root. Since the inclusion of a root, or some 
wood at any rate, is wanted for a complete diet and proper digestion by 
many of the loricaridae (incl. farlows and peckoltias), you will likely 
find that the peckoltias will make such their home and never stray far, so 
long as algae grows on the root. Then again, some peckoltias are partial to 
certain plants. If they happen to find one of your plant species a delicacy, 
be prepared to have it gnawed off in a very beaver-like fashion.

As an alternative, some types of ancistrus (bushy nose plecos) are supposed
to be very good, relatively hardy, and they "do windows". They also stay 
fairly small. Some are quite favourable to look upon, as well. There is some
talk that certain of them will munch on certain plants, however.

Cheers,

Shawn


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