Royal Pleco in my cichlid tank yes or no

[Flowerhorn916]

I have a 55gal cichlid tank mostly 2-3" cichlids I also have a 5" asian redtail cat and a 6" shovel nose in there 1 common pleco around 3" my tank is very rocky I usdertand I should gather some wood if I intend to get a royal pleco for my tank. What do you guys think a local store has a royal around 3-3.5" long for only 20 bucks. Also are the royals as hardy as the common pleco.

Thanks

 

[Harry Tolen]

Without knowing more about your tank and any other tanks you may have or be planning, it would be difficult to recommend adding a Royal Pleco to your setup. Most plecos do like to eat driftwood and need it as part of their diet, however.

 

[schiejr]

The Royals are not as hardy as the commons by any means, IMO. In addition to the wood you should make sure they get some sinking pellets at night. They seem to be quite territorial though and will likely fight for dominance with the pleco-my 3" Royal lost out to a 3" bristlenose in a 55 with tons of hiding places. The Royal healed up fine and eventually I moved the bristlenose to avoid future trouble.

I am with Harry though on the recommendation; unless there is a dwarf shovelnose cat I am not familiar and those are dwarf cichlids you have in there, future growth of the current inhabitants would preclude adding anything else.

 

[daveedka]

I haven't had issues with royals not being hardy. Most of the cases I've seen where royals didn't do well did not have driftwood, and driftwood as you have already figured out is a requirement.

My observation is that Royals do not like other pleco's at all. They tend to be fine with other species, it's just pleco's they hate. On a seperate note, there really isn't room for anything more in that tank. The tank will be too small for most of the fish you have in a very short time, so adding something else will only compound the issue.
Dave

 

[Flowerhorn916]

How about a bristle nose I really like them do you guys think that would be a better choice?
Thanks

 

[IceH2O]

How about a bristle nose I really like them do you guys think that would be a better choice?
Thanks

This should answer that question:

. On a seperate note, there really isn't room for anything more in that tank. The tank will be too small for most of the fish you have in a very short time, so adding something else will only compound the issue.
Dave

 

[Flowerhorn916]

All the fish in the tank are small once they get mabey 1" longer each I am gonna start breaking them up into other tanks I have had cichlids for around 8 years and never had any problems. The way I choose to stock my tank is up to me there is proper filteration airation and the water quality is ideal I have not lost one fish since I set this tank up and the fish dont seem to mind they all get food and there not tearing eachother up seems fine to me

 

[daveedka]

3 Jack Dempesy 2 Convicts 1 Firemouth 1 Red Devil
2 Severums 1 Flowerhorn 1 Texas Green Cichlid
1 Pike Cichlid
================
1 Common Pleco 1 rubber nose pleco 1 Asian Redtail 1 Shovel Nose 1 Eclipse Cat 1 Bichir Eel 2 Syno Cat

When you request reccomendations on these boards you commonly will get reccomendations. IT is somewhat frustrating when folks come here asking for help and guidance and then argue with advice which is abviously good advice.

My reccomendation is that you start building a 4-5 thousand gallon tank for your red tail, your shovelnose, your birchir, and the common pleco. You could maybe add an arrowana or a pacu to a 4 thousand gallon tank with those fish.

Something in the 180g-300g range would probably suffice for the cichlids, and leave you room for a royal as well. Then you could use the 55 for your firemouths or put them in the 180+ and add something new and smaller to the 55 to go with your bristlenose.
dave

 

[ChileRelleno]

I have a 55gal cichlid tank mostly 2-3" cichlids I also have a 5" asian redtail cat and a 6" shovel nose in there 1 common pleco around 3" my tank is very rocky I usdertand I should gather some wood if I intend to get a royal pleco for my tank. What do you guys think a local store has a royal around 3-3.5" long for only 20 bucks. Also are the royals as hardy as the common pleco.

Thanks

NO! I wouldn't recommend a Royal Pleco, or anything else for that matter.
You are overstocked, your fish may be small now but very soon you will have a major mess to contend with unless you have definite plans for a very large tank.
What kind of cichlids are these 2-3" fish, and how many?
The Common Pleco can reach 10-12"+
The ARTC up to 3'+, will quickly reach 2'+ under good conditions with adequate food.
The Common and ARTC are very messy fish who generate mega amounts of waste, they will quickly foul your waters parameters as they overload your tanks bio-capacity, add in some cichlids (Type(s)(?)) and its a cess pool waiting to happen. Unless your doing PWC's almost everyday, but then the aggression factor will get you.

I'll stop now, you get the picture, you may have already known all this though but a reminder is always good.

 

[Flowerhorn916]

Well these fish are now spread out over 2 55gal tanks and 1 65gal and I am planning on getting another 55 soon. If anyone is worried about the red tail or shovel nose dont be once they get too big for me I have arranged to give them to a local aquarium for there "AMAZON" tank which is several 1000 gallons.