help with a pleco for my tank
- Thread starter adam123
- Start date
hello i would say that all the pleco range would suit your set up so go find 2 or 3 that you like and ask again to see peoples opinon on help choicing good luck
ps would they be just for looks ?
ps would they be just for looks ?
most plecs produce quite a lot of waste, especially the herbivors.
try group of hypancistrus or peckoltia type maybe?
try group of hypancistrus or peckoltia type maybe?
The tank is currently set at 26ºC and the PH is about 7.2. I feed the cichlids with blood worms, prawns, cichlid pellets and sometimes insects and worms.
I’ve had a look at some of the plecs. The lemon spotted green looks quite nice, snowball, gold nugget, mango. I still quite like common ones as well. Are these suitable and does any of these plecs have any special requirements?
I’ve had a look at some of the plecs. The lemon spotted green looks quite nice, snowball, gold nugget, mango. I still quite like common ones as well. Are these suitable and does any of these plecs have any special requirements?
300 Litres is a good size for commons but you would eventually need an even bigger tank. The lemon spotted plec is nice but can be shy, I hardly ever see mine. Nuggets can be very difficult to acclimatize and get eating so we don't usually recommend these as 'starter' plecs.
If it were me, I would look at plecs that have a diet similar to the fish you already have, maybe one of the Leporacanthicus, some of these have very nice patterns and colouration and fit the water parameters.
http://www.plecoplanet.com/forum/articles.php?c=114
If it were me, I would look at plecs that have a diet similar to the fish you already have, maybe one of the Leporacanthicus, some of these have very nice patterns and colouration and fit the water parameters.
http://www.plecoplanet.com/forum/articles.php?c=114
Something like a Hypostomus might be a good start. Don't get quite as large as Commons but do get large enough to coexist with Oscars.
Carnivorous plecs don't necessarily do well with large carnivorous cichlids despite the diet compatibility. The reason for this is that the large cichlids are typically ravenous eaters while plecs in general are not as outgoing feeders. What often occurs in this situation is that the cichlids eat the food intended for the plecs. A better fit is a omnivore who can hold its own with the cichlids. Being omnivores they can take some meaty foods without a great risk of intestinal distress & you can supplement their feedings with veggies with less risk of the cichlids eating the veggies.
Carnivorous plecs don't necessarily do well with large carnivorous cichlids despite the diet compatibility. The reason for this is that the large cichlids are typically ravenous eaters while plecs in general are not as outgoing feeders. What often occurs in this situation is that the cichlids eat the food intended for the plecs. A better fit is a omnivore who can hold its own with the cichlids. Being omnivores they can take some meaty foods without a great risk of intestinal distress & you can supplement their feedings with veggies with less risk of the cichlids eating the veggies.
Good point. Maybe a common would be the best choice as they grow fast as well or an L001(goldspot), these have loads of character.
They're in the same family as a Common but get larger. If you want a similar one, L001, as Lisa recommended might be something to look at.
L001 only get in the 12" (30cm) range and grow a bit slower than Commons or Sailfins/Gibbys.
A well cared for common/sailfin can reach growth rates of 2" per month so it doesn't take them long to outrow tanks.
All three should be fairly easy to get hold of in the UK though. If you wanted to start off with one full grown though then try some of the pet shops or even Maidenhead Aquatics as many people dump these plecs when they realise the cute little algae eater is no longer little.
My opinion would be L001 Diet is compatible as well as the growth your looking for they also tend to hold there own more so than the other two common species, i found when i kept them to be quite veracious feeders.
HTH
HTH