both do an equal job of cleaning algea, which is pretty good. although i think the rubberlip is cooler looking, i voted for the bristlenose. rubberlip plecos can get pushy with other bottom feeders especially during feeding time. you've got rams and pandas in the tank that may not be able to compete for the food on the bottom of the tank with him.
Bulldog(Rubber Nose) or Bristlenose?
- Thread starter davexstumpe
- Start date
Though very cool, engaging, and attractive, Chaetostoma sp. (Rubbernose/bulldog plecos) vary considerably in their habitat. Some of the most common are from higher altitudes than any of the other fish in your tank and are, for all intents and purposes subtropical (thriving in temperatures from the mid sixties to the low seventies, like white clouds), needing high water flow and oxygenation to really thrive. Since I can't tell them apart particularly well, and I therefore can't explain to you how to make sure you have one that would do well in your tank, I would stick with a Bristlenose.
For the record, some species stay half the size of a bristlenose, some are the same size.
For the record, some species stay half the size of a bristlenose, some are the same size.
Cool! I seem to have one of the small ones, as he doesn't really grow much (which is good for his tankmates, as he has the temper of a real bulldog
). I hope that this is not one of the coldwater species?
As mentioned above, Rubber lips can be aggressive. Especially towards bottom feeders. They are very territorial, not just meaning that they have one spot in the tank that they prefer, if anyones around them, they usually like to "let them know to keep away" My experience with a Rubber lip was in my 30gal he was pushy towards everyone. Then one day, my boyfriend moved him into my 75gal without my approval and it ended up killing 3 of my Cory's and my Dull Eyed Royal Pleco! You can only imagine my frustration when I came home to find the rubber lip picking on my Royal and causing its death!
My advice, stay away from the rubber lips...
My advice, stay away from the rubber lips...
thanks guys.
in a complete turn of events i picked up a clown pleco. hopefully he fits in well?
ps. your input was not thrown away, i still plan on going with the bristlenose in another tank.
in a complete turn of events i picked up a clown pleco. hopefully he fits in well?
ps. your input was not thrown away, i still plan on going with the bristlenose in another tank.
Ah, srry, I was thinking bulldog was another name for the pitbull pleco (2-2.5", metallic blue/green, cute)
Clown Plecos have a bit of an attitude themselves. But they should work out just fine. They arn't aggressive to the point of death, nor, IME, to the point of even frayed fins. They actually have really cool personalitys.
Hope you enjoy your new Pleco!
I purchased two rubbernose plecos, both about an inch in length, at the same time. The next day I woke up to find one dead. The other one is doing great. He's the 2nd smallest in the tank and never seems to bother anybody. If anything he is constantly scurrying away from everybody else. He shuffles along, but doesn't outright swim away and hide. IMHO he's a cool fish and fun to watch (when he's out... mine hides about half the time).
