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re: Borneo Suckers/Hong Kong Plecos..



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>Return-Path: <andrewi at u_washington.edu>
>Date: Wed, 10 Sep 1997 09:51:59 -0700 (PDT)
>From: "A. Inniss" <andrewi at u_washington.edu>
>To: Aquatic Plants Digest <Aquatic-Plants-Owner at actwin_com>
>Cc: Aquatic-Plants at actwin_com
>Subject: Re: Aquatic Plants Digest V2 #945
>
>> 
>> Date: Tue, 9 Sep 1997 15:29:42 -0500 (CDT)
>> From: Michael W McGrath <mcgrath at citilink_com>
>> Subject: Borneo Suckers/Hong Kong Plecos..
>> 
>> I was at my shop today and saw the coolest fish. It was brown, maybe 1-2
>> inchs, with tiny yellow spots. They where called Hong Kong Pleco, or
>> Borneo Sucker. I was told they like to eat algae, and do not harm plants,
>> but like a goof I forgot to ask the latin name. Anyone know if these guys
>> are good algae keepers or what?? 
>> Thanks
>> Mike
>> 	
>	Mike, 
>	Fish sold as Hong Kong Plecos, or Borneo Suckers are from the
>Family Homalopteridae, and most likely the one you have is a
>Pseudogastromyzon, or Gastromyzon.  Tough to tell which species w/out
>seeing the fish.  Try Baensch I and II, and Axelrod's atlas.  You may not
>find your particular species in hobbyist literature, but if you're realy
>hot to find out which particular species you have, send me private email.
>	They are really more aufwuchs eaters than algae eaters, but in
>terms of effect that won't make much difference: as far as any of the
>flat, carpeting algae goes, they will do a good job taking care of it.
>You'll probably find they are omnivorous in captivity (not atypical for
>'aufwuchers'), and you'll see them happily munching on bloodworm if
>offered.
>	Ideally they prefer cooler water (low 70s), but I have found that 
>even at elevated temps (~82), they were okay in a planted tank, presumably
>because the water in such a tank is still oxygen-rich.  They also like
>current.  I once had them in a bucket with water flowing in via airline
>tubing, and when the stream of water would flow down the side of the
>bucket, they would fly out of the water and zoom up the side of the
>bucket, seemingly relishing the stream-like effect. They do come from fast
>flowing streams, hence they are sometimes lumped together under the common
>name Hillstream Loach.  I don't believe pH, GH, or Kh values are critical,
>although extremes are to be avoided.  They are, however, sensitive to
>nitrogenous wastes, dissolved organics and the like, so clean water is a
>must.  All that said, a nice healthy, planted tank is the best set-up they
>couold have unless one set up a little biotope for them.
>
>		Andrew
>
>