New S. aureatus

Post by **Barbie** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 2:25 am

I already have 6 of these fish, but they're all growing out. I found this one and thanks to Fishnut2 managed to get it purchased and shipped to my house yesterday! Isn't it gorgeous? I'm thinking there might be a quest in my future to find a few more this size. To heck with patience!

Barbie

zebrastorey · Post by **zebrastorey** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 7:34 am

BEAUTIFUL!!! Wow that is one great plec you got there

khblock · Post by **khblock** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 11:07 am

Very nice. I'm off to planet catfish to learn more about this one.

khblock · Post by **khblock** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 11:28 am

Hey Barbie,
Its a beautiful fish. Went to PC and read up on it. Very nice but got a bit of a tickle. There is a photo of this cat's teeth. I'm not making fun of the pretty little baby but you have to admit this is very interesting.

http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/lo ... 161_14.PHP I have to post a link and not the actual picture because PC donesn't allow hotlinking photos.

This little guy can get up to 12 inches. I wonder how big his teeth get?

Post by **Barbie** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 6:47 pm

I'm not intending to tick one off badly enough it will use those things on me!

These fish are funny. If you put in zuchini they'll eat the skin first. Totally backwards from all the Ancistrus in the house. They're also very forward and not shy at all. This new one is sitting in a display tank in my living room right out in plain view where I can see it from my computer chair. Of course that might be due to the fact that there just isn't any cave or nook in the driftwood tangle that it can begin to fit in, hehe. They're also hell on sponge filters. I think they are just trying to get any food on the outside but they definitely actually consume the sponge too!

I'm hoping that since these come from the same place as zebras their spawning needs will be similar, just on a wee bit grander scale

. They've been spawned in captivity, but not much was written about it that I've been able to find. I intended to just wait and grow my others out to go with this one but odds are good I'll never have the patience for that and I'll order in a few more large wilds now that I have one

.

Barbie

KenW · Post by **KenW** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 9:44 pm

that's a nice one barbie. Glad he/she made it finally, and I thought s/w was one of the better shippers, oh well sh happens.

So how big of a cave are you planning to use. Seems like you'll need one at least 18X6X4. Good luck.

I'm still thinking of getting some small ones.

Ken

Alistair · Post by **Alistair** » Tue May 02, 2006 3:55 pm

Many moons ago when I worked in an aquatic store for some pocket money for Uni, we had quite a few of these in. The biggest was probably aroun 6 - 7 inches, but most were aroun 4 inches. We used to feed them with whole prawns (shell and all), the would sit on top of them for ages slowly working their way through. They were very popular obviously due to the colouration (the common name of 'Goldy Plec' is very apt.) and by the fact that they were not backwards in coming forwards and were nearly always on show. They were quite expensive though £60 - £80 each in 1996, what do they cost now?

thebuddy · Post by **thebuddy** » Tue May 02, 2006 4:45 pm

Wow congrats on the fish.
I think I'm now falling in love with plecos in general i wonder were the next tank would go....

Post by **Barbie** » Tue May 02, 2006 7:20 pm

When you see them on wholesale lists now at this size they are usually about $150. I know that the person I bought this one from paid $250 in their LFS. I bought it on aquabid for $80, plus the shipping from Chicago (thanks again Rich!). Great savings! The only problem is that now I'm going to end up importing more adults in hopes of managing to find a female or two

. I had hopes this one was a female due to the lack of odontodal growth but I think it's probably going to be male at this size. Either way, it's VERY neat and forward! I have been gearing it up to taking bigger foods. I haven't tried the shrimp yet though. I'll have to do that. Especially since there are 6 young goldies in with it

. Maybe I'd better plan on doing it the day before their scheduled water change!

Barbie