Just how cold can it get?

[imagirlgeek]

I just got our pleco. He's in the house in a bucket full of pond water and a bubbler going.

Our pond pleco was easy to catch because he's blind.

[Mzungu]

Any tricks on coaxing them out?

Oh, wow. That might be a tough one!

I guess it depends on how skittish they normally are, if at all. Some plecos hide all the time, whereas at the other end of the spectrum, there are those that come up to the top whenever you walk by in hopes of getting fed.

I imagine it would be more worth your while to put a heater in the pond if your plecos are of the former group. Otherwise you'll probably just get cold and wet.

Plecos survive Houston waters where they've been introduced, so I imagine if you keep the water moving and make sure it doesn't drop TOO far in temperature they will be okay. They're pretty tough fish.

[Mzungu]

I just got our pleco. He's in the house in a bucket full of pond water and a bubbler going.

Our pond pleco was easy to catch because he's blind.

WOW! That was fast!

Poor, blind, but happy and warm pleco of the Geeks!

[imagirlgeek]

WOW! That was fast!

I don't mess around...

)

[pt lavell]

that sure was some fast fishing!! from what I understand we should be o.k as long as we don't drop too low in temps for too long.

[blacksmith37]

It's the end of the world ! Global Warming has hit Huntsville TX ; 1/2" snow on grass and trees.
Koi orginated in a part of Japan where they get ice on the rice paddys/ponds. I guess a few generations at Brets could make them sissys; but mine are first generation from Japanese stock, so I can't imagine a problem- if Global Warming lets up .
The danios and swordtails could be in trouble. So, again (after saying never again ) I have put urethane foam sheath in the pond (80 % covered) and added a 300 watt ebo (yesterday). Also a small circulation pump because worry about gas exchange when it is covered.
I did find a bloated ( 2 weeks dead ?) kribensis in a 2 ft deep buried tub. I put a few in for the summer but could not find them when I looked a month ago.

[pt lavell]

Water temp @ 9pm - 52f. Seems to have leveled out for now. Monday it's going to be 70 and sunshine, ahh Texas

[pt lavell]

water temp @8 am - 49f. That's at the surface, it's 53f on the bottom 33" deep. I hope the plecos have made it through the cold last night?

[rama]

Cold enough to drop my garage tank down to 68°F.

[semper]

thats it ram

do you have heaters on it

the big huge tank

[rama]

240Gal 1 300 watts, 2 100 watts............

[pt lavell]

Back up to 55f at the surface of my pond. My koi are now looking at me for food
I will not be tricked!!!!

Still no sign of any plecos yet..........

[imagirlgeek]

I checked on our Koi last night and they didn't ask for any food.

Patrick - Do you feed special food in the colder months? I've seen Fall/Winter food and Spring/Summer food. Just wondering if you follow that feeding method?

[pt lavell]

Yes I do, I've been feeding wheatgerm with only 11% protein for the last 3 weeks. During that time we would treat them with snow peas, and honey nut cheerios. Now they're getting 0 from us.

During the summer I fed them red shrimp meal 42% protein and treated them with craw fish, shrimp, oranges, grapefruits, and watermellon periodically.

[blacksmith37]

My main pond is (Dec. 8, 59.1F with 300 watts + 80 % surface insulation. Guess I will have to turn off the heater or feed the Koi. In addition to standard pellets I give mine any frozen legumes and corn and any breakfest cereal (I avoid the sugar coated so they don't get too hyper).
Covered pond with no heat -53.1F.