Pleco Aggresion?

saltydog

saltydog

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Mar 16, 2004
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I have an L200 pleco which seems to be aggressive towards my baby Common and Juvinile Queen arab............is this normal? As soon as they are in his vicinity........he lunges at them....

Just rying to figure out whats going on.....Thanks :confused:
 
There are many species of plecostomous that are mildly aggressive. If he is only lunging and not actually attacking or doing damage you might be okay. It could just be them establishing the pecking order in your tank.
 
How bigs your tank? Sounds to me like he's just defending his territory. You might have too many plecs or maybe just not enough hiding places. The tank needs enough space for all plecs to have a hiding place, and then to have swimming space that doesn't involve the others hiding places. Other than that, the L200 doesn't really have a reputation as a mean pleco.
 
Plec aggression

Catfish generally don't like other catfish. Having four in one tank likely puts him on guard more, more defensive. Plecs often have a real stay away from me, outta my way, I'll go where I please attitude.
 
Sounds to me like you just need more caves and hiding places. I know for a fact L200s and Queens don't get very large, and your commons a baby(but it will grow fast!). You don't state what your 4th plec is, but you should have plenty of room till your common matures. I have 6 plecs(among other scavengers) in a 90, w/o much aggression. My gold nugget is probably the meanest, constantly chasing my clowns, who are bigger that he is, away from his spot under the driftwood. Even w/ lots of spots to hide in, they'll probably squabble over the best spots. I wouldn't worry about it too much unless it persists.
 
qtaquaman said:
Catfish generally don't like other catfish. Having four in one tank likely puts him on guard more, more defensive. Plecs often have a real stay away from me, outta my way, I'll go where I please attitude.
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hehehe, I've noticed this too..... perhaps it's that armored body that gives them the muscles to pull their weight that way ;)
 
I've found a few types of pleco's are agressive, and extremely territorial. I haven't owned more than 4-5 types of pleco's though. Royals, and king tigers in particular seem to be very standoffish about any other fish in their vicinity. With my royal, I first thought it was just a territory thing, but he will lunge at any fish within 3 inches of him even when he is out and about in the tank. Despite multiple hiding places in my tank, all of my fish seem to like the same general areas under the slate. So when the royal is home it's a three ring circus under that one piece of slate. His aggressiveness doesn't seem to go beyond about an 8" chase though so the other fish just zip out of his way, and go on about their buisiness.
dave
 
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