[amphibi-man]

Recently I asked if all L-200 Green Plecos eat aquarium plants and Dawn (bettababy) said yes that all of them do. So my next question is this: Do L-128's (Blue Spotted Plecos) eat aquarium plants? Shoot I really love both species. My bud still has my L-200 in his aquarium. I gave it to him over two years ago and I wish I could have him back but my aquariums are heavily planted. Thanks all!

 

[carpy]

hi, im new, but ive been in the hobby for ages!
the L200 is an algae eater, but it will only eat soft leaved plants, i have 6 juveniles in a 5 foot planted tank, and i have no problems.
the L128 is a very similar species, so the same applies. the only differance is that the L128 is less hardy, so the L200 in that respect is a better fish

 

[caferacermike]

In reality they are the same fish. One is collected from the north and one is from the south, same river. I had 4 L200 that never touched any plants at all. I fed algae wafers, New Life Spectrum community pellets, cukes and squash, and fresh mysis shrimps.

 

[xingumike]

L200 is actually applied to 2 different sp. of fish, Baryancistrus demantoides and Hemiancistrus subviridis. I keep the Bary and a L128 (hemiancistrus sp(L128)) and neither of them have ever touched any of my live plants. I would be surprised if Java fern was eaten by either of these sp. (or any loricariidae for that matter) as it is midly toxic to them i think

There is speculation that L128 the northern form of hemiancistrus subviridis but this has not been confirmed yet.

 

[Lupin]

Hi Xingumike.:wave:

I cannot prove this one but I did heard of reports about scats succumbing after consuming Javan ferns due to what they suspected was toxicity.

 

[xingumike]

interesting, i haven't heard of fish actually dying through consumption.

I will add, that i keep Panaque, Baryancistrus, Scobinancistrus, Hemiancistrus, Lasiancistrus, Ancistrus, Parotocinclus and Chaetostoma all in tanks containing anubias and java fern and no plant has ever been eaten

 

[Lupin]

There isn't a single explanation on internet about Javan fern toxicity except this sentence found from one site. There's another but it's quite useless to quote the same sentence anyway. All are found on the profile for Scatophagus argus only. The species being referred to are the scats. It seems clear to me that plecs and other vegetarians are smart enough and will unlikely to target Java ferns for consumption when compared to the unwitting scats.

It is reported that Java Ferns are toxic to this species.

HTH