Choosing A Pleco

[Ri-Za]

Hi all
 
So I have decided to get myself a small pleco for my current roma 125 set up. I've always been interested in keeping one but unfortunately I was miss sold one at the start of my fish keeping hooby. I ended up with a common pleco which was going to quite easily outgrow my tank which I didn't realise to begin with...common thing for a new fish keeper I'm sure!
 
So after having my current tank set up for nearly a year now I'd like to get another pleco but obviously one that is suited to my tank and isn't going to grow too big.
 
So I have a 125 litre tank with currently 10 cardinal tetras, 4 glowlight tetras which I'm looking to rehome to boost my cardinal numbers and 3 honest gouramis, 2 females and 1 male I believe.
 
So after doing some research I think that something from the hypancistrus or ancistrus species would be ideal since they grow less than 5" which is what I'm after. Something nice and small but doesn't need algae to eat as I don't have a huge amount grow on my glass. Are there any plecos that anyone could recommend to me please to suit my current tank and setup?
 
Thanks

 

[laurac94]

Have a look at the 30 plecos under 8 inches pinned topic in the pleco section. It could help ;-)

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Ancistrus would like algae, but you can feed plenty of foods that include that and they will need a bit of meaty food now and then as well. And you should see the common tank strain of this fish out enough to see it. You should be able to use almost any tank raised species for the most part. There are some in the wild that live in blackwater conditions and lower pH water which may no be suitable
 
Most Hypans will stay the right size.They are omnivores with a predilection for meat. They are one of my favorite pleco genus. You may not see these guys as much as Ancistrus. Almost any of them would work that is tank raised and most of the wilds as well.
 
Both groups need adequate hiding places and appreciate wood in their environment.
 
As for specific ideas, how much are you willing to spend? You can find nice fish from a few $/£s to 100s.
 
Look into them at http/www.planetcatfish.com/index.php

 

[Ri-Za]

Cheers for your help guys. I've been doing some reading, including the pinned topic on here and various other sites and have narrowed my choices to the following, I've included sizes below as well in case I have miss read anything;
 
L128 - 2.7"
L340 - Mega Clown Plec - 3.1"
L173 - 3.1"
L316 - Jari Zebra Pleco - 3.1"
L136 - 3.1"
Zebra Plec - 3.2" (might be a bit pricey though)
L262 - 3.5"
L250 - 3.5"
L260 - Queen Arabesque Pleco 3.5"
L174 - 3.5" (Also known as the Panther pleco I believe)
L270 - Chocolate Zebra Pleco - 3.9"
L318 - 3.9"
L400 - 3.9"
L136C - 3.9"
L004 - Angelicus Pleco - 3.9"
L401 Rio Curua Pleco - 4"
L399 - Unsure of size
L454 - Unsure of size
L450 - Unsure of size
 
I'm hoping I've done some decent research but would anyone rule out any of the above at all based on compatibility or size issues?
 
In terms of price TwoTankAmin, I'm not looking at spending £100's but willing to go the extra mile for the right one
 
Many thanks for any help

 

[xingumike]

That size is not correct for L128, they get much bigger.
 
Most if not all of the others are Hypans and therefore carnivorous in terms of diet.

 

[Ri-Za]

Ah right ok, thanks xingumike, I'm thinking of getting a mega clown plec, am I right in thinking they stay under 4"? If so then I think that might be the one for me

 

[xingumike]

Yup, correct on size.
 
Assume they are available to you?

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Mike- I hate to disagree with you, but the Hypans are omnivores, not carnivores. The do like their meat, but that is not the same thing. Ingo Seidel states this of them in his "Back to Nature Guide to L-Catfish" book on page 108:
 
"Diet: Hypancistrus are ominivores, which appear to have a higher than usual requirement for vegetable food, especially when young. This need may express itself by juveniles regarding many aquarium plants as food, while by contrast adult individuals leave them alone."
 
I have always feed mine spirulina with garlic every Saturday and include veggies sticks another time or two every week.
 
I spawn L450s- they are typical Hypan. size. You will not find 173s, if you do they are more than zebras. You might like Hypancistrus contradens also.

 

[Ri-Za]

That's good then, well I have only ever seen one around me a few months ago and it must have been nearly fully grown so I might have to go and have another look...if it's gone then I might be a bit stuffed haha!
 
So if I do get a mega clown plec should I feed a mix of veggies, algae wafers and something meaty?

 

[5-star_plakat]

That's good then, well I have only ever seen one around me a few months ago and it must have been nearly fully grown so I might have to go and have another look...if it's gone then I might be a bit stuffed haha!
 
So if I do get a mega clown plec should I feed a mix of veggies, algae wafers and something meaty?

 
Mega clowns aren't too picky. You should be able to get away with veggie pellets, carnivore pellets and occasionally zucchini or potatoes. When feeding vegetables, I only leave slices in the tank for 6-8 hours (overnight). Good luck with your decision.

 

[xingumike]

Mike- I hate to disagree with you, but the Hypans are omnivores, not carnivores. The do like their meat, but that is not the same thing. Ingo Seidel states this of them in his "Back to Nature Guide to L-Catfish" book on page 108:
 
"Diet: Hypancistrus are ominivores, which appear to have a higher than usual requirement for vegetable food, especially when young. This need may express itself by juveniles regarding many aquarium plants as food, while by contrast adult individuals leave them alone."
 
I have always feed mine spirulina with garlic every Saturday and include veggies sticks another time or two every week.
 
I spawn L450s- they are typical Hypan. size. You will not find 173s, if you do they are more than zebras. You might like Hypancistrus contradens also.

 
Happy to be corrected, you have far more Hypan experience than I.

 

[Ri-Za]

Cheers for all your advice guys
 
Unfortunately I haven't been able to find a lfs that has any in stock so I will either have to go further afield or hold off for now

 

[xingumike]

Cheers for all your advice guys

 
Unfortunately I haven't been able to find a lfs that has any in stock so I will either have to go further afield or hold off for now

 
where are you located?

 

[Ri-Za]

I'm located not far from Bath but I've visited quite a lt of places recently but haven't found any mega clown plecs so might have to go for a second option unfortunately.

 

[Ri-Za]

So after having a bit of a further look around shops where I live I haven't been able to find any clown plecs or mega clown plecs, only the usual bristlenose and bulldog plecs. Unfortunately there isn't much variety around where I live.
 
I have seen quite a lot of hillstream loaches which I really like the look of but I have a feeling they might not suit my current setup, is this correct? Mainly being the oxygen and high flow requirements, I have an external filter with a spray bar but this might not be enough.
 
Otherwise I think I might have to investigate a bit further afield.