---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 27 Dec 1996 19:32:14 -0500
From: esarchy@wsunix.wsu.edu
On Tue, 24 Dec 1996, Mike Hedger wrote:
Has anyone had any personal experiences in keeping a
Scobiancistrus Aureatus Species "Goldy Pleco"
(L014a)? If so could you send info. to me about their
behaviour, eating habbits, etc.. Actually, if anyone has
any personal experiences with ANY of the larger Exotic Pleco's I
would also be happy to hear from them!
Thanks,
Mike
Mike,
S. aureatus (The genus
is either Scobinancistrus or Scobiancistrus depending on whether
you use Aqualog's or Lee's spelling (AFM Dec.1995). I would
really like to know which is correct) is a great loricariid. I
had one that was named "Sunny" (not by me) for over a
year. His deminse came during my move this last summer when I
found out the hard way that our water here in our new place is
heavily chlorinated. The point is that his death was premature
and not due to any difficulties from keeping this particular
species.
This sp. does well in captivity and gets along with just about everything. The fish comes from the Rio Xingu, but I do not know which part of the river and thus can not tell you for certain what their preferred "natural" conditions are. My fish thrived in waters with a pH range of 6.8-7.2, DH 1-3, and temps from 72-82F. He never bothered his tankmates but always held his own against both cichlids and catfishes.
I feed cucumber, zucchini, spinach, and bloodworms along with sinking algae wafers. This fish likes more meaty foods than most other loricariids so I would feed 50% veggies and 50% meaty foods with no food once per week. One weird thing about Sunny was that he only ate the skin from cucumber. Most loricariids eat the inside first, but Sunny never cared for the soft portion. This causes a big mess since the veggies, with out skin to hold them together, really dirty up a tank. Lee's article mentions that these fish like cantaloupe. I tried it and my guy liked it, but it was very messy. I hope this info helps,
-Shane