View Full Version : Pleco?
Now I have my T-Bars, what is a good pleco and other small fish I can add? I want to keep the tank Central American.
Rubbernose Pleco (from another post) seems to be the answer, if it stays below 3 or 4 inches...does it?
quenton
04-07-2006, 7:46 PM
Most plecos do NOT stay small -- most will be small when you buy them, but in a few months they will double or triple in size and the common ones will reach 12" or 13".
Also, even at 3 or 4" they can destroy a planted aquarium.
I know the clown-pleco stays small -- its also not has hardy as other plecos.
You might look at ottos or whip-tails (stick catfish) -- mine serviced my ich attack
better than the plecos I don't have any more.
If you really want plecos, look them up via google or whatever and find ones that
a number of sites tell you stay at a small size. You read lots of individual reports of
plecos staying small in smaller tanks, but its just not true, so look for multiple
articles that agree.
Star_Rider
04-07-2006, 8:37 PM
bristlenose..they get around 5" for female 6" for a male..very good at controling algae and uses driftwood for cover, unlike some species(clown is one example) that need driftwood in it's diet.
the bn is also fairly hardy for a pleco..
but they do have an affinitiy for eggs (spawns);)
Also, even at 3 or 4" they can destroy a planted aquarium.
Yikes! Is this true of all?
but they do have an affinitiy for eggs (spawns)
Double Yikes!! Don't want that. Maybe I'll do without one...
quenton
04-07-2006, 10:42 PM
Yikes! Is this true of all?
Double Yikes!! Don't want that. Maybe I'll do without one...
Well -- having said some negative things above, the three common plecos I had were my favourite fish. I did finally return them to my LFS -- got 3 clown plecos which I lost while ridding the rest of my tank of ich -- but I too would like to get some that would not grow too big and would not wreck my plants -- I will keep looing.
Star_Rider
04-07-2006, 10:53 PM
a bn prob won't destroy your plants..I have sword and anubias in my tanks along with java fern..my bn never hurts them..actually she is kind of gentle with the plants..but she also has eaten 3 angel spawns.
the trick is to get the eggs out before she finds them. usually the angels keep her at bay long enough for me to pull the eggs.
scholar
04-08-2006, 2:37 AM
Rubberlip pleco maxes out at 4". :)
mooman
04-10-2006, 9:49 AM
Any scavanger/algea eater will eat fish spawns if the parents aren't doing thier job. Just make sure the one you go with is small enough to be detered by the parents (bristlenose, clown, rubberlip). Once eggs are laid, leave a light on in the same room as the tank 25hrs a day. (this way the mom can see the pleco coming)