View Full Version : Plecos for cichlid tanks
Misskiwi67
12-13-2003, 12:47 AM
Are there any good pleco species for a cichlid tank? My mom has a tank of mixed africans, and we were thinking of putting a pair of bushynose plecos in with them. But knowing the aggressive nature of the africans, we weren't sure if it was a great idea... Anyone had issues or successes??
i think i'd try one.......
i've had a common and even a farlowella in with the africans i used to have. there might be a ph or at least an acclimation issue tho. definately watch it for the first couple days closely and make sure it has a place to hide...
someone else might have better suggestions.....
good luck
Misskiwi67
12-13-2003, 8:24 PM
We were thinking of adding a pair to the new tank, and there will be plenty of hiding places. We're doing extensive rockwork, its going to be great. The pH at the petstore is pretty high, and they quarrantine all new fish for a week, so hopefully they'll be ok. I acclimatize all new fish fairly well though. Thanks for the reply.
marsupialvomit
12-13-2003, 11:42 PM
alright you can have a pleco in your tank but you need to remember 2 things: 1) Pleco's aren't supposed to be in Ph at 8.5 but it can still work and 2) you're going to need a 5in pleco to survive and abuse the others might cause, the bigger the better.
valerie
12-14-2003, 12:04 AM
BN plecos usually are fine in african tanks. I have one in my 90g african tank. You jsut have to make sure that your africans aren't picking on him. Sometimes they are fine but sometimes you can have certain fish that will just pick on any bottom dwellers.
BN plecos should be fine in the high ph of african tanks. Make sure you check what the LFS ph is and if it is quite different then your acclimate the pleco slowly.
mtdewlover
12-14-2003, 10:24 AM
I foud that it also depends on the size of your tank. I had five africans and a common pleco in a 29 and my cichlids picked on it all the time. Now that they are all in a 55 gallon they don't bother it. I also have a cichlid tank with siamese algae eaters and they do great in it. I've been recommended many of times to get a busy nose b/c I tend to get freaked out by those big plecos. I'd say go for it. Just have a place for it to hide. :)
marsupialvomit
12-14-2003, 2:39 PM
space is key