Smart/Good?

[GhostKnife]

I have 3 ponds going right now, all of them are old hot tubs, Long story, I have some Koi in there and each has a Giant pleco and a ray. I know Koi are normally Coldwater but I have a heater on there to keep the ponds at 75 degrees, Is this ok?

[Incognito]

I'm not 100%, but I would say it's not a good idea for several reasons.

1. Coldwater fish belong in coldwater. 75 is not really THAT warm, but it could compromise immune function.

2. Coldwater fish belong in coldwater. 75 is not really THAT warm, but it changes the amount of oxygen the water carries. The warmer the water, the less the oxygen content. Your koi might night be able to get enough oxygen. If you see them surfacing often when it is not feeding time, they may be trying to breathe atmospheric oxygen because the water is oxygen depleted. If you are overstocking that much more so. A hot tub isn't really that big, but both the pleco & koi grow HUGE. I would hazard a guess that if you aren't overstocked now, you would be when these fish reach a larger size.

3. Plecos are tropical and belong in tropical water. 75 is at the low end of the spectrum. A pleco will not overwinter successfully in an outdoor pond in most northern areas.

4. Plecos are known to attack large, wide bodied fish (like koi and goldfish especially), latch on, and eat at the slime coat damaging the fish's main disease defense and causing rasping scale damage etc. If the fish are sluggish from being in warm, comparatively underoxengenated water, the problem is compounded.

5. I don't really think therefore having a pleco and a ray in the same tank is a good idea either. Additionally, the bottom scouring tendencies of the fish he is cohabiting with would make me think he would be hard pressed to find a place to hang out without harassment. Rays are ambush hunters, and being forced to move constantly would be detrimental to instinctual natural behaviors.

6. I am sure there are things I've missed. I'll let other forum members pitch in.

[GhostKnife]

This is a mobile pond, IT moves, so wintering is not a problem, Ponds get warmer then 75 degrees in the sun so I dont think that there would be a problem there. My plecos were raised from very small and have never ever attatched themselve to another fish, they are peaceful fish.

[DaisyTattoo]

From what I understand, pleco's only attatch themselves to other fish when their diet is lacking. If they are being fed veggies and they have access to some sort of driftwood(both of which they need in their diets) then they will most likely refrain from using the fish as their daily vitamins. I personally think you are probably ok with what you have although I am no expert by any means. Shoot sometimes I even have problems with my betta I can't figure out

[Incognito]

OK then. I guess I'm talking but all you hear is



So yeah, I guess keeping those fish together is a capital idea. Tropicals and koi are completely compatible with no problems what so ever.

Koi usually are kept in shallow ponds with no cooler deep areas, and 75 degrees is perfectly fine for them. Like a loooong bubble bath.

On the plus side, at those temps your plecos and rays should suffer no ill effects unless the water gets really underoxygenated by gasping koi.

I'll just go now. Good luck with your pond(s).



Wait.

Really, you said you have a few of these setups, why don't you just have a tropical pond with a heater, sand and driftwood setup for the rays and plecos and a coldwater pond with a waterfall setup to oxygenate and chill the water for koi & whatever else?

It makes sense if you are doing something to do it right...



...well, at least the fish would be better off!

[DaisyTattoo]

Originally Posted by Incognito

Really, you said you have a few of these setups, why don't you just have a tropical pond with a heater, sand and driftwood setup for the rays and plecos and a coldwater pond with a waterfall setup to oxygenate and chill the water for koi & whatever else?

I do agree with this statement. During this time of the year, the temp of the water will probably be at least 75 without heat anyway, so there wont be any ill effects to the koi that they wouldnt get in any pond regardless of the other fish they are with. As far as the plec goes, yes they could have a higher temp, but honestly, 75* isnt too cold for him.

[GhostKnife]

Originally Posted by Incognito

OK then. I guess I'm talking but all you hear is



So yeah, I guess keeping those fish together is a capital idea. Tropicals and koi are completely compatible with no problems what so ever.

Koi usually are kept in shallow ponds with no cooler deep areas, and 75 degrees is perfectly fine for them. Like a loooong bubble bath.

On the plus side, at those temps your plecos and rays should suffer no ill effects unless the water gets really underoxygenated by gasping koi.

I'll just go now. Good luck with your pond(s).



Wait.

Really, you said you have a few of these setups, why don't you just have a tropical pond with a heater, sand and driftwood setup for the rays and plecos and a coldwater pond with a waterfall setup to oxygenate and chill the water for koi & whatever else?

It makes sense if you are doing something to do it right...



...well, at least the fish would be better off!

one pond isnt large enough to keep 3 20 inch rays is it? Temps normally get that high in most of the water here and the heater is coupled with a chiller so that the temp is always 75. no higher or lower, in an odd way it keeps the house cooler too?

[joephys]

how big are these hottubs? Koi need really need a huge pond. 500 gallons for the first fish, and 100 gallons for every additional fish at a minimum.

[GhostKnife]

they are huge, All over 5K Gallons

[joephys]

Wow, those are some big hot tubs.

[GhostKnife]

I know, My tractor has a hard time pulling them, If my vehicle or wrecker could do It better I would use them but the mower plods slow enough

[Incognito]

Hmm... and even after reading this thread I am mystified as to where the anger is coming from...

Let us know how it works out.