pleco for a 20 gallon planted tank

[Andy16]

What is the best pleco for a 20 gallon planted tank? I want something not aggresive. I would also prefer it to be colorful if at all possible. I dont want to spend over $50 either.

All advice is appreciated.

[mogurnda]

The only one I have seen recommended for a planted tank is the candystriped/clown pleco, hemiancstrus sp. Used to be vittatus, but the species names change a lot. I just got a couple for the 25 gal planted tank, and they will be out of quarantine in a little bit. They are reported to be good at algae control, but don't bother the plants.
They are colorful, if you like brown and beige. They are also cheap, I got mine for 7.99 each.

[Andy16]

Thanks mogurnda. Looked it up on planetcatfish.com and looked good to me. Just so you know hte clown pleco and candystiped pleco are two different fish. I just saw it on that website. Anyways they both looked great.

[mogurnda]

This fish, often labelled "Candy Striped Peckoltia" has often been confused in hobby literature with the fish we now know as Panaqolus maccus, the clown pleco.

Well, I guess I was one of the ones confused. I meant the clown, panaqolus. Even the genus name has changed on me. Thanks for pointing this out.

[valerie]

If you jsut want a pleco and it doesn't have to be for algae control then you can choose from any of the dwarf plecos. The most common are the clowns, bristlenose(good algae eater),Otos, zebras(most of a species tank pleco). ther are lost to choose from.

If you want it for algae control then i would get a bristlenose. I have 1 in my 15gal planted and 2 in my 58gal plants and nothing has cleaned up like they have. Otos are also good algae eaters, plus they are really cute:p . My clown pleco has never realy eaten any algae. Some of the species being sold as "clown pleco" are actually canivores(i think i read this but i might be wrong). I know mine doesn't touch the algae waffers and prefers shrimp pellets and bloodworms. Clown plecos are also more shy then BN plecos, I hardly ever see mine.

[mogurnda]

On the basis of no experience, only what I have read and people have told me, bristlenoses have been blamed for bruising plants. I would be willing to bet that one would never see a problem in a tank with thriving plants.

As far as clowns not eating algae, the two tiny ones I bought just completely scoured the quarantine tank. But Valerie's point about different species being labeled as clowns is totally valid.

I wasn't thinking about otos when you asked about plecos. I also agree that they are a good idea. They spend a lot of time cleaning the leaves without damaging them.

[Andy16]

Im getting otos also. I just wanted a pleco because they look nice. I guess it doesnt really matter if it eats a lot of algae. Just as long as it doesnt hurt my plants because its going to be hard enough taking care of them without somehting trying to eat them:D

[LMOUTHBASS]

i think??? he's not an ugly black like the common's you see, but he's a brownish color with black spots on his fins, but the lfs has him listed as common but i don't know if he is or not any suggestions woul be helpfull, anyhow sorry got off track he doesn't even go near my plants or algae for the matter, i feed him cucumbers n algae wafers often though so this coul be why, once in a while he sucks on some plants but he cleans them he never hurts them!!!

[valerie]

I would say that a clown or Bristlenose pleco is the best bet. Both stay small and won't eat you plants.

Clowns have better colors, beige and dark stripes. But BN look really interesting because you their bristles and if you get say a starlight bristlenose(more expensive) it can have a nice pettern also.

remember clowns are usually more shy and might not be seen as much(this is my experience)especially during the day. BN pleco are always out and about, busy cleanign something.

Also clowns NEED wood in the tank. They are wood eaters jsut like royal plecos and a few others are.

[mogurnda]

Otos need wood too, right?

[valerie]

Otos aren't wood eaters, so they don't need it in the tank.

[mogurnda]

OK. Thanks.

[Hebdizzle]

although my rubber-lipped pleco is in a 30 gallon, I don't think there would be any problem with it being in a 20.

Aaron

[valerie]

Rubbernose plecos prefer cooler, fast current, highly oxygenated waters. So depending on the temp of your tank it might or might not work.