Clown Plecos

[MAM]

have been doing my homework on clown plecs and plan on adding one (maybe two, now that i found a lfs that stocks and sells them for around $6) to my fishy family in a few months (once the bigger tank is up and cycled). but i'm having trouble finding a couple of answers to my questions.
first question, would he prefer to be alone or would two clown plecs be a good thing or a bad thing?
second, they eat wood and like veggies like cucumber and such. does this mean they will munch on the live plants in the tank too or will they leave them alone?
third, are they mainly a placid/peaceful fish? if i have other bottom dwellers like loaches or cory cats, will the pleco harass them or be fine?
thanks!!!!!

 

[gourami guy]

hi!
answering to your first question, I think he would better with another of his kind, not another boy though, maybe a girl. Do you want to breed is really the question!

 

[MAM]

no interest in breeding, just want a happy fish

 

[CFC]

Clown plecs do best in small groups so three is the minimum recomended number to keep, you do not mention how big the new tank is going to be but you will need a minimum of 30g as each clown plec will take up a small personal territory.
They do eat bog wood and veggies but also need a little protein in their diet, some bloodworms or a little chopped mussel once a week as a treat will keep them in good condition, if a suitable diet is given they will leave plants alone.
They are peaceful nocturnal fish and will not harrass other bottom dwellers but will not do well with large or overly active tankmates.

 

[MAM]

thank you cfc. clears it up for me

 

[ryan]

you may want to keep them in a group but i hav found that 1 is fine. my clown plec strated of with a small territory in a plant pot but has gradually taken over the bottom ofthe tank. he does not harass any other fish he just chases a few when it is feeding time when he is trying to protect his algae wafer. he does eat the plants abit but only certain ones and he doesn't cause them that much harm.

 

[Paradise_Gourami]

I have two common plecs which shouldnt be that different that clown plecs. First of all plecs are peacefull and tend to keep to them selves and do not bother any other fish(exept each other because they may have quarals but theyre not to serious).

 

[jonall]

I have 2 clowns at the moment might get another 1 and they seem to spend most of thier time in a couple of caves i have, they are usually lying next to or on top of one another - They are very rarely apart. I also bought a Bristlenose last night as the clowns were ignoring the algae build up. The bristlenose went straight to the caves as well & the clowns accepted him right away.

The clowns have been in the tank for over a week now and dont seem to have damaged the plants I have at all so far.

the only agressive scene i noticed when it was nipped by a bullying tiger barb (no longer with us) who promptly took a swift tail to the head. Apart from that they are very docile.