Pleco question

chayse

I have a 1000 gal koi pond, 2ft deep at it's deepest point, and I live in Arizona. The water temperature never gets down to freezing here, just to about 35 - 40 F at the coldest. My koi do just fine outside over the winter, but I also have 2 big plecos in there. In the past, I've always brought them inside and let them bunk up with the oscars. Lately, I've had a couple of people tell me that they leave their plecos in their ponds all winter long. I thought they were more tropical than that... What do you guys think? Would they be alright in the pond?

MegK

i would be interesting in finding that out as well, as i need to re home mine, and my friend has a pond that is heated during the winter

managemysite

I think it is too cold for them, but you can make pleco flavored ice cubes if they freeze!

The-Wolf

even here in the UK i have heard of people keeping common plecs and L001's in pond all year round.
personally I wouldn't do it, but it can be done if the pond is deep enough.

Stacey

I'd like to first qualify my post by saying I have no useful information for you, because......
1) I'm in Canada, it's been -20c here lately!
2) I don't have a pond. I do have a pleco though.

Having said that, I do have a few ideas...

How about adding a heater?
Maybe some sort of deep substrate they could burrow into would help?

And lastly, I've read about "wild" pleco (released from aquariums) populations surviving in some parts of the southern United States. Have you ever heard of wild plecos in Arizona?