Will my pleco live in my pond?

[Shadownova]

I have a pleco and I am wondering if it will survive in my 250,000+ gallon pond. I live in Ohio so it might get a little cold but it is about 10-13 feet deep so it might be okay on the bottom. Anything will help!

- nova

 

[Chiroptera]

I'd be worried about the cold more than anything, I'd say no just because of that.

But, in warmer areas, people releasing plecos has become a real problem because they do so well in lakes and ponds, so in a secluded pond it would be fine.

It's just the weather that would worry me.

 

[bettaowner]

A pond that deep should be ok. That is a big pond. Most people recomend 18 inches max.

 

[Shadownova]

Yeah we rarely go fishing out there and I think the biggest threat is a big hungry fish but anything else you think might harm it let me know

 

[Cichlid Kid]

Even though it's deep the cold will reach those depths in ohio. Even a common pleco which is the most cold tolerant of them all wouldn't be able to winter in a pond that far north. Most people will agree 50-55° minimum for commons.

 

[Shadownova]

The ground temp is always about 55 degrees so that is what it would be at the bottom.

 

[vanimal]

I think it would be to cold for it.

 

[aqua hobbyist]

It may be too cold for them but the air becomes colder faster than air, and the deeper the pond is, the more heat since it is underground, insulated. u could add a heater, besides, plecos r extremely hardy and can adapt to short periods of cold temperature, but not for a season, the pond should be private!

 

[Cichlid Kid]

I live in Pennsylvania rite next door to ohio and i know for a fact that in the dead of winter our lakes around here down to a depth of 20' or more barely get to 40°
Thats way to cold for any pleco. I had a similar thread concerning dojo loaches wintering in my pond and researched water temps at diffrent times of the year down to 30+'

 

[Scott F]

I have a pleco and I am wondering if it will survive in my 250,000+ gallon pond.
- nova

u could add a heater

But could you pay the electric bill ???

 

[aqua hobbyist]

Well leave the pleco out for the other seasons then place the pleco in a temporary tank for the winter until spring!

 

[Shadownova]

I only have one tank, the Pleco is already about four inches long, my tank is only fifteen gal. and I'm already pushing the inch a gallon rule

 

[vanimal]

What kind of pleco is it??

 

[Shadownova]

Common