Dreamin again......How many plecos (smaller varieties) can you safely put in a 55 gallon tank with lots of drift wood and rock work; with perhaps with a small school of little tetras/rasboras? I will be moving in the spring and after we set up house I will be getting a "bigger" tank - (prob a 55-75 max), and I really want a variety of plecos.....the smaller varieties 4-5"....I seem to be developing a "thing" for catfish! :evil_lol:
Pleco stock question
- Thread starter noodles62
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Well, pooh! I was hoping for 4 or more! There are so many species that I "must own"! (Typical woman - I want it all and I want it now!) :grinyes:
I s'pose I could live with 3..........
More tanks! 
Pleco's may not seem aggressive but when you get one or two fighting over the same turf it's not pretty...I learned the hard way, early with my male BNs. One, unfortunately, didn't make it.
Pleco's may not seem aggressive but when you get one or two fighting over the same turf it's not pretty...I learned the hard way, early with my male BNs. One, unfortunately, didn't make it.
You could mix 4 smaller species in a 55, depending on what their diet/habitat requirements are. Obviously a BN for algae control, a flash or clown pleco to gnaw on driftwood, and a couple of small, carnivorous types like L333's should work out well enough.
I have 2 small plecs in a 55g (clown & ? scribble, 2+ inches) & they ignore each other. I think another small plec or even 2 of different species "may" be ok. Can you have a "back-up" plan & lots of caves? Falling for bottom dwellers can create some difficulties...
the more driftwood and caves you have, the more plecos you can have. start with just a couple, see how things are, and add one more at a time as long as things go well. through i wouldn't put more than maybe 6 4" plecos in a 55, maybe 2 more in a 75 because it has more bottom space. pleco aggression in the case of the smaller ones is usually within the same species, so if you mix it up (bn's, clowns, rubberlip, etc.) instead of all one kind there will be much less fighting. Or do a school of cory cats and have a couple less plecos.
LOL, the pleco "experts" have spoken...me I have no outside experience other than BNs.
Back up plans are key to this hobby
Back up plans are key to this hobby
with male bn's i had the same experience as you, jpap. they like to battle with each other, and those "claws" on the sides of their faces make things worse. but they don't pay much attention to other plecos, outside of the "I was on this algae wafer first" kinds of disputes.