Botanic Garden >> Gardening > >> Question and Answer >> Pond and Water Gardening

Bottom Feeder in Cold Water: Likely a Tropical Pleco

A "bottom feeder" in a 1.5-foot deep, 120-gallon pond floats, gulps air, and dives when touched at 52°F. Robyn identifies it as a common plecostomus, which dies below 50-55°F. She advises catching it immediately for indoor housing. Also notes the pond is too small for koi (need 1000+ gallons) and plecos (grow 1-2 feet).

Pond and Water Gardening: Pond Liner vs. Concrete: Which to Choose?; Clearing Green Water in a Fishless Pond; Fish Lying on Side at Pond Bottom: What to Do; pH Adjustment for Fish Transfer: Raise Old Pond, Not Lower New; Bottom Feeder for 9,500-Gal Pond: High-Finned Banded Shark; Earth-Bottom Pond Tea Color: Tannins, Runoff & Decadal Dredging; Why Are My Pond Fish Hiding at the Bottom?; Why Pond Fish Hide at the Bottom and Three Go Missing; Goldfish Hiding at Bottom After UV Installation: Predator Scare; Koi Pond Filtration: Skimmer + Bottom Drain vs. Winter Operation in NJ

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