I bought 2 L397 amd 1 L306. Around 2 or 3 years ago. They were extremely colorful. Especially the 306. I house them in a tank that they are comfortable. Lots of driftwood. High flow rate. Subdued lighting.
I feed them, well, everything. Pleco disk, cucumbers amd zucchini, Bloodworms, even flakes occasionally.
They are very fat and happy little guys. Or gals.
Only thing is they are drab. Very drab. Mostly brown and darker brown. The fins have stayed somewhat impressive. But I wish I only bought 1 L397. I could be using that space for something more impressive.
Anyway I see lots of similar "species" for sale now a days. Amd they look so tempting. But I am almost thinking all tiger plecos are "scams". And they only take on the amazing colors they show in advertisements because they put them in tanks with very high lighting. No hiding places. And lighter backgrounds. And that any new ones I get will just do the same.
Now I would say well all plecos do that when in tank conditions like mine. But none of my other plecos have this issue. And I have a lot. All stay the color they are advertised as. If not increase in vibrancy. I almost cannot tell the 397 and the 306 apart. Brown with brown stripes. Not orange amd black. Not even light brown amd brown. Very little contrast.
I am almost of the opinion, that these tiger plecos are all this way. Vibrant long as they are in conditions I cannot imagine them being happy in.
So can anyone provide me with a tiger pleco type that stays vibrant?
In conditions like i described.
My L046 doesn't lose its colors. Neither do any of my gold nuggets. My Goldie genus. Non of them are losing colors. And so on with any of the 25 or so L numbers I have.
I was considering "candy striped" tiger pleco. I think it's L398. But not certain.
Any thoughts or suggestions?
I feed them, well, everything. Pleco disk, cucumbers amd zucchini, Bloodworms, even flakes occasionally.
They are very fat and happy little guys. Or gals.
Only thing is they are drab. Very drab. Mostly brown and darker brown. The fins have stayed somewhat impressive. But I wish I only bought 1 L397. I could be using that space for something more impressive.
Anyway I see lots of similar "species" for sale now a days. Amd they look so tempting. But I am almost thinking all tiger plecos are "scams". And they only take on the amazing colors they show in advertisements because they put them in tanks with very high lighting. No hiding places. And lighter backgrounds. And that any new ones I get will just do the same.
Now I would say well all plecos do that when in tank conditions like mine. But none of my other plecos have this issue. And I have a lot. All stay the color they are advertised as. If not increase in vibrancy. I almost cannot tell the 397 and the 306 apart. Brown with brown stripes. Not orange amd black. Not even light brown amd brown. Very little contrast.
I am almost of the opinion, that these tiger plecos are all this way. Vibrant long as they are in conditions I cannot imagine them being happy in.
So can anyone provide me with a tiger pleco type that stays vibrant?
In conditions like i described.
My L046 doesn't lose its colors. Neither do any of my gold nuggets. My Goldie genus. Non of them are losing colors. And so on with any of the 25 or so L numbers I have.
I was considering "candy striped" tiger pleco. I think it's L398. But not certain.
Any thoughts or suggestions?
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