Very aggresive pleco

Connie · Post by **Connie** » 05 Aug 2003, 10:03

My 16 inch pleco is very aggressive I think I may have posted about this before but it is getting worse.
I have had this guy since he was only 2 inches.
He lived in a 29 gallon then was moved to a 55 gallon as he got to be around 12 inches he would slam his body down onto the gravel I think to try to kill the corys that were in the tank, before this he didn't mind the corys at all and they would use his fins as caves.
I figured he was feeling cramped so we went out and bought a 125 gallon for him.
A few months ago I saw he had trapped a healthy 4 inch bullseye between himself and some driftwood and I saw the bullseye was alive and went to get something to remove him and came back and the bullseye was dead, I wasn't about to go in there and remove it and the next morning it was gone, I am assuming he ate it.
So I added more caves (hard to find for such a big guy) and I started basically overfeeding thinking maybe he wasn't getting enough food.
The last 2 months he wont go into his caves and he makes his own caves by moving gravel around with his belly, leaving what looks to be a gravel pit in my tank.
He also attacks my blue acaras and chases the other catfish, he is very aggressive and I don't know if I can handle it.
He is the reason we keep upgrading tanks but when he is terrorizing my fish and he cant stand me now, he used to come to the surface to hand feed and he would let me pet his snout now he attacks me when I am doing water changes.
I don't get it, I know plecos become somewhat aggressive as they get big but I didn't know this much.
Any ideas what I can do to make him less aggressive?
Thanks,
Connie
BTW here is a picture when he was about 12 inches.

Caol_ila · Post by **Caol_ila** » 05 Aug 2003, 10:50

Hi!

Maybe hes reached sexual maturity and as a result shows agressive behaviour?

(Or hes unhappy about the blue gravel and revolts...)

DeLBoD · Post by **DeLBoD** » 05 Aug 2003, 11:45

Indeed it sounds like a territorial issue due to sexual maturity.
Iâ??d say no small tank mates and get a muzzle.

tiny_clanger · Post by **tiny_clanger** » 05 Aug 2003, 12:59

I'm a bit confused. He's in a 125 - but with what tankmates?

Connie · Post by **Connie** » 05 Aug 2003, 13:50

lol on the blue gravel, it is the second tank I had set up like 8 years ago, I will be changing to sand soon, I also have a 29 gallon which is my first tank that has green gravel

His tankmates in the 125 gallon now are mystus catfish, sun cats, bumblebee jelly catfish(arnt they cute!) http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/pi ... /721_f.htm
I also have a tiny vampire and a tiny leapord cactus which I realize I will have to move as they get older, this has nothing to do with his aggresion as they were just added not too long ago. I also have some large cichlids in the tank which are spawning and he raids there fry as the poor parents try there hardest to keep him away.
Connie

Connie · Post by **Connie** » 05 Aug 2003, 13:56

BTW the 125 gallon has natural gravel, the 29 and the 55 gallon with the green and blue gravel are tucked away in my computer room, everyone makes fun of the gravel when they come over and so does my husband.
Here is a current picture of this pleco.

Manix · Post by **Manix** » 05 Aug 2003, 14:12

Sounds like you need the pet psychic

...Sorry...that doesn't help.

Caol_ila · Post by **Caol_ila** » 05 Aug 2003, 17:30

isnt there a fishwhisperer out there?

Changing gravel is an annoying thing indeed...