pleco for my 30g w/ endlers?

cellodaisy

cellodaisy

AC Members
Jan 11, 2009
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Cincinnati OH 45219
meganstrickland.com
Looking for a pleco that would:

1) be happy in a 30g
2) leave my endlers and fry alone (at least mostly)
3) have stripes

GER1023 suggested a Flash Pleco (L204) and I think they are gorgeous! The Butterfly Pleco (L168) also caught my eye.

I have a lot of driftwood from another tank that I can add, and I have large river rock to use as substrate, though I have not put it in yet.

Suggestions greatly appreciated! Thank you!

PS: Just so we're clear---I do NOT have an algae problem and I am NOT looking for a tank cleaner. I just think they look awesome. :)
 
Pleco's are bad to buy for algea control since most do poorly controling it. So your intentions for getting a pleco is a good one =)

Another pleco you might like is the clown pleco not as flashy as the flash though.
 
Forget the beautiful little Hypancistrus like L-333's (and the L-134 leopard frogs too) if you want something visible by day. I have 3 L-204's in a 55 along with 7 L-134's, and the 204's are by far the most active by day and generally visible. The L-333's in my 30L BN breeding tank are mainly seen when I tear the tank apart for cleaning.
Clown pleco's are another stealth fish, seldom seen by day, and usually diving for cover.
You did specify stripes, but if you want color instead I have some L-10a red lizard whiptail fry that are just about large enough to ship, and a couple extra red BN males from Germany available.
 
toddnbecka said:
Forget the beautiful little Hypancistrus like L-333's (and the L-134 leopard frogs too) if you want something visible by day. I have 3 L-204's in a 55 along with 7 L-134's, and the 204's are by far the most active by day and generally visible. The L-333's in my 30L BN breeding tank are mainly seen when I tear the tank apart for cleaning.
Clown pleco's are another stealth fish, seldom seen by day, and usually diving for cover.
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Good to know! I certainly want something that I can see.

toddnbecka said:
You did specify stripes, but if you want color instead I have some L-10a red lizard whiptail fry that are just about large enough to ship, and a couple extra red BN males from Germany available.
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I seem to be unreasonably obsessed with stripes, but thank you for the offer!

The L204 is looking like the pleco for me. Now to actually *find* one... My LFS options are not the best.

I did find them at http://www.somethingsphishy.com and http://www.thatpetplace.com, but I've never ordered from them and I think the shipping would be as much as the fish. :/
 
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Let me check with someone, might take a day or two to get a response, but I may be able to pick one up at the CCA meeting April 10. Last month one was auctioned off for around $25 if I remember correctly. Priority Mail shipping wouldn't be more than $12 max. I like mine too sell one, and I still have some hope they may spawn one day. The buggers do make quite a lot of sawdust though, not pretty if you have a light-colored sand substrate.
 
toddnbecka said:
Let me check with someone, might take a day or two to get a response, but I may be able to pick one up at the CCA meeting April 10. Last month one was auctioned off for around $25 if I remember correctly. Priority Mail shipping wouldn't be more than $12 max.
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I'm in no particular rush. Thanks for looking into it! Obviously, there's natural variation, and I'd love to find one with really bold stripes... Again with the stripes obsession. I don't know what my deal is. :p:

toddnbecka said:
I like mine too sell one, and I still have some hope they may spawn one day.
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Are they tough to breed? Now you've got me tempted to get two... :p:

toddnbecka said:
The buggers do make quite a lot of sawdust though, not pretty if you have a light-colored sand substrate.
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Not a problem. I have large black river rock.

I'm so excited! :D
 
They don't spawn in aquariums very often from what I've gathered, but it is possible, so I'm hopeful.
The smaller/younger ones have relatively wider stripes that become narrower as they grow. However, the fin rays on their tails become longer as they grow, making them look more graceful IMO.
 
toddnbecka said:
They don't spawn in aquariums very often from what I've gathered, but it is possible, so I'm hopeful.
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There's a great article on PlanetCatfish about spawning L204s (which I'm sure you've already seen): http://www.planetcatfish.com/shanesworld/shanesworld.php?article_id=354

They seem like awesome fish and not many folks are breeding them, so I'm tempted to try, but I should probably start with just keeping one happy and healthy... Sometimes I think it would be so much more fun to be irresponsible and jump into things. *le sigh* ;P

I may post a WTB just to see what sources are out there. Do let me know if/when you find out anything from your source. Thanks!
 
Nice writeup there, thanks for the link. I missed that one when I was researching the L-204's before I ordered them. No response from whoever was selling them at the CCA meeting, but here's a link to a current auction on aquabid. New seller, no feedback yet, but if you use paypal you should be covered if something's wrong: http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.cgi?fwcatfishp&1271455689
 
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