Best Pleco For My Set-up

[fry_lover]

Best Pleco or Plec(s) for a 300 litre (67 Gallon), lots of bog wood, but sharing with 2-3" Convicts and similar cichlids

price range, £10-15 per Plec

PS - looking for some good algae clean-up crew

Bristlenose?

anything else??

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

What is the exact length and width of the tank though? Gallons is important, but things like the actual length and width of the tank is especially important as pleco's are primarily bottom dwelling fish and you can have two tanks both of which are over 60gals but are very different in their actual dimensions etc.
Here is a link with 30 plecos under 8inches if you are looking for smaller plecos since some grow giant in size;

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=132656

Planetcatfish.com is also a very valuable site for doing research on plecs and other catfish (lists hundreds of types of catfish and often has many pics and much info on them too);

http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/index.php



Personally, if you are looking for a clean up crew for algae i would go for a group of 4-6 or more oto's as although they are small catfish, they make very efficient algae eaters.
For pleco's in general, if you can get hold of one of them, these make very stunning pleco's in particular to own;

Titanicus pleco (max size: 11-12inches long);

http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/speci...?species_id=234

Para pleco (max size 6inches long, despite the info in the link);

http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/speci...?species_id=195

King tiger/network pleco (max size 4-5inches long);

http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/speci...?species_id=174

Starry nigh bristlenose (max size: 3-4inches long);

http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/speci...?species_id=442

Most of the above pleco's are pretty hard to come by, so if you want something less uncommon/rare, i would personally go for a trio of clown/ringlet plecos if you get some mopani/driftwood/bogwood in the tank as these make very attractive small growing plecos which aren't hard to come by;

http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/speci...?species_id=734

I'm just scratching at the surface here, there are tons of gorgeous plecos and other catfish out there, planetcatfish is a good site for researching such fish as i said- i would go for oto's though if you just want some good algae eaters .

 

[KathyM]

I would go along with what Tokis has said, but if you're specifically after an algae clean up fish, then Otos and bristlenoses are your best bet. If tank cleaning isn't important, go for the Clown Plecs, but bear in mind they're panaques and eat wood, and therefore make a lot of waste for their size, compared to similarly sized plecs that aren't woodeaters. They're my favourite of the smaller growing species though because they look flashy but only cost a fiver each normally. They also like to live in groups I believe.

 

[fry_lover]

thanks for the fantastic replies, i will check them out

my tank dimensions are

48" long
20" wide
24" high

 

[LisaLQ]

I wouldn't get otos with convicts

Bristlenoses would be brilliant, busy little fellas, and hardy too. Other than that, I'd have recommended a rusty (see my avatar pic - they are fabulous for cleaning up as youngsters, very busy indeed - more so than bristlenoses), but whereas I got mine for £7 last summer, I hear now they're incredibly hard to find and are going for much more now. Someone even mentionned that they thought they were banned for export now like zebras?

 

[KathyM]

I wouldn't get otos with convicts

LOL bloody good point - it was late, what can I say?

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

thanks for the fantastic replies, i will check them out

my tank dimensions are

48" long
20" wide
24" high

Yep that should be large enough for a pleco 11-12inchs long max size if you are interested in some of the larger growing specimens .

 

[LisaLQ]

I'd go for one of the tougher plecs (ie hardier ones) like a bristlenose, rusty or maybe even a medium (4-6") royal (although in the long run it'd need a bigger tank, they grow much slower than most other plecs - only an inch a year).

 

[fry_lover]

thanks for advise peeps

have arranged to buy some Bristlenose off another forum member

 

[Bert]

I have a Rhino Pleco that I just love he get's along with everyone but will need a bigger tank in time. The only fhish he ever does anything to is my Betta but, my betta likes to tuant him but sitting on his head xD