Minimum water temperature for a pleco?

[GTK]

I've got a common pleco in my unheated shubunkin tank, and the water has been getting rather cool this year. How cool can a pleco stand it?

 

[STUNNA]

I wouldn't go below 72 degrees F with any tropical fish. I've had several different species of of suckerfish, and they seem to do great at high temperatures(80-83) with discus. Exactly how cold is the tank? Intank heaters are only around $8-$12, if you go cheaply. Really, tropical and coldwater fish should never be mixed, because one will always be living in an unsuitable environment, whether it's the tropical one, as in your case, or the coldwater one.

 

[GTK]

Actually, I got the pleco for the shubunkin tank after someone here at this forum recommended it as a good algae eater for a coldwater tank. My old copy of Innes says they are fine down to 62 degrees, but my tank is right around that now, and I'm wondering how critical that is. If anyone else has experience with a cool tank pleco I'd like to hear about it. I have a heated cichlid tank, but it's only 29 gallons, so I can't move him there.

 

[wetmanNY]

Under natural conditions Common Plecos may be more cold-hardy than in your aquarium. High 50sF might be okay for a while, but not if you stressed the fish by trying to net it. The larger the tank, the more stable the temps.

We've cranked up our average temperatures over the decades. My Tiger Barbs and Botia Modesta winter at temps round 70oF

Are fish more susceptible to fungus at low temps?

 

[Don Stephens]

Is there any sucker-catfish that's hardy at lower temps than a "common pleco"? Even with the heaters, my tank occasionally drops down to around 60Thanks for any info,- Don,keeping fish since 1950...