How much does a pleco cost? An introduction to market prices
The pleco, also known as the suckermouth fish, garbage fish, or catfish, has very strong vitality and adaptability and can survive almost anywhere there is water. It likes to cling to aquarium walls or aquatic plants, licking the moss and green algae on the surface, and is the most common cleaner in aquariums. Let's take a look below at how much a pleco costs!
How much does a pleco cost?
Plecos are generally quite cheap. Depending on the location, you can buy one for a few yuan to a dozen or so yuan. In Shanghai, a 3-10 cm one costs about 2-10 yuan each; in Fuzhou, a 3-5 cm one costs about 8-20 yuan each; in Quanzhou, a leopard pleco or catfish pleco of 10-11 cm costs about 35 yuan each; in Guangzhou, an ordinary pleco of 5-15 cm costs about 3-12 yuan each, one around 25 cm costs about 98 yuan each, and a leopard pleco of 3-4 cm costs about 34.20-37.24 yuan each; in Dongguan, one around 8 cm costs about 25 yuan each; in Hangzhou, one around 9-10 cm costs about 15 yuan each; in Lishui, one around 10 cm costs about 15 yuan each; in Beijing, one around 10 cm costs about 9.90 yuan each and one around 15 cm costs about 15 yuan each; in Chengdu, a 7 cm one costs about 10 yuan each and a 12 cm one costs about 15 yuan each.
How to choose a pleco
1. A healthy pleco's body surface is intact and undamaged, the body is grayish-black or light brown, the body surface has black-and-white patterns, the belly is flat, and the left and right pelvic fins join to form a round fan-shaped sucker.
2. When selecting a pleco, it is best to buy from a professional, highly reputable aquarium shop, and you can also invite a professional acquaintance to go along, so as to pick out a healthier pleco.
3. Plecos like to cling to aquarium walls or aquatic plants and devour algae and moss. When choosing a fish, you can also observe whether the pleco has this habit.
Pleco keeping conditions
1. Water quality: Keeping tropical fish artificially requires soft water or low-hardness water, with a pH of weakly acidic or neutral being best. If it is too acidic, tropical fish have difficulty breathing and grow slowly; if it is too alkaline, the gill tissue of tropical fish will be corroded.
2. Water changes: A partial water change means using a siphon to suck out the feces, leftover bait, and other dirt from the bottom of the tank. The amount of water drawn out should preferably be 1/4 of the tank's water volume, then add the same amount of new water at the same temperature that has been sun-dried or chemically dechlorinated. The frequency of water changes should preferably be 2 times per week in autumn and winter, and 3 times per week in spring and summer. For a full water change, remove all equipment from the tank, take out the aquatic plants and fish, place them in another container at the same temperature as the original water, and wipe the tank walls and bottom clean with a sponge. Change the water once every 3-4 months.
3. Water temperature: Tropical fish are extremely sensitive to temperature, and if the temperature is unsuitable they will soon die. Different species of tropical fish have different water temperature requirements. For most tropical fish, a water temperature of 20-24°C is suitable, and during the breeding period a water temperature of 25-28°C is suitable. The temperature difference between day and night must not exceed 4°C.
4. Oxygen: A certain number of aquatic plants should be planted in the tank, because aquatic plants produce oxygen during photosynthesis, increasing the oxygen content in the water. At the same time, removing dirt promptly and changing water frequently can also increase dissolved oxygen in the water.
5. Light: If the tank is placed in a room with sunlight, it is best to give it about 1 hour of sunlight in the early morning and evening when sunlight is weak. If the tank is placed in a room without sunlight, the aquatic plants should be illuminated with light, using a 60-watt incandescent bulb or a 40-watt fluorescent lamp for 6 hours a day. Light can make tropical fish grow faster and make their bodies more colorful.
6. Stocking: The stocking density of tank-kept tropical fish depends on the size of the tank. For first-time fish keepers, the lower the density the better, and an air pump needs to be added. Quiet fish cannot be kept mixed with aggressive fish, and large fish cannot be kept mixed with small fish. There are many choices of feed for tropical fish, such as fish worms, bloodworms, or packaged feed suitable for different species of tropical fish. Raw bait and live bait must be washed clean to control sources of disease.
Note: The pleco has no natural enemies in China, so it must be treated with caution and must not be released into the wild. In some places in the south, this fish has already become rampant, causing the native fish species in entire rivers to be nearly wiped out.