pleco +goldfish

[Greyshadow511]

i have a small common pleco. it's the last fish from a large tank of many tropical fish my parents kept. it now is in a maybe 1.5 gallon hexagonal tank. i plan to get some goldfish soon, 4 at the most, and most of which being comets. i also plan to get a new tank for them. i want to know if it would be a good idea to put the gold fish and pleco together or keep them seperate. and also what would be a good size tank to get? i don't particularly want a big tank.

 

[Dangerdoll]

with 4 comets and this pleco you have, you are really looking at over 100 gallons.

The pleco alone will get 18" or larger, needing a 75 gallon alone for it to turn comfortably inside the tank.

 

[Greyshadow511]

i figured it would probably be some huge number. i knew how big plecos can get and how big comets can get too. but would it be a good idea to have them start out in a smaller tank and then work up to a bigger tank as they grow? the pleco is maybe three inches and the comets will be young ones from a pet store so they'd be small too. but other than that would it be ok to have a pleco and goldfish living in the same tank?

 

[Rbishop]

Best to identify the exact pleco first....some will handle the cooler temps that goldies need, but many won't.

 

[Jill-O]

It wouldn't be a good idea to start those types of fish off and let them grow in a tank less than probably 40x the size of the one you currently have. You will likely stunt them...

As for goldfish and plecos, we have bristlenose plecos in with our fancy goldfish and they do very well for us together.

 

[Dangerdoll]

agreed with Jill-o. If you tried to go the route of upping the tank as the fish grows, your chances of stunting them are high. When stunted, it never ends in a pretty picture.

 

[TheFishBoss97]

And plecos grow really fast, I started with a 3" pleco in a 20G, and it was 12" in 6 months after lbs of zucchini and other veggies. Then it was rehomed into a 72G bow until it jumped out while I was on vacation

 

[Fishfriend1]

Plecos can live with goldfish, but not all of them will do well. Also, get a 100 gal or more tank, you will save money and energy that way. In the long run, it's better for you, your fish, and you wallet.

 

[user_name]

Or just bring the pleco back, and skip the comet goldfish. There's tons of awesome fish that you can find for much smaller tanks, what are you looking for in fish? (Personality, cool behavior, colorful, active, maitenence level, ect.)

Craigslist can have some great deals on big tanks.

 

[smitty]

I do not hear many people say they do not want a big tank. Matter of fact I can not recall the last time I heard such. Are you okay.