Getting a Bristlenose pleco from Maidenhead aquatics

[Fishkeeper123]

Hi there I currently have a 75l tank with 8 long finned leopard danios and 2 panda garras. I am going to add a bristlenose pleco soon. I am planning on getting it from Maidenhead aquatics. I don’t really want to quarantine it. Do you think this would be ok and if so what method should I use to add it?

 

[MattW]

Most Maidenheads have a quarantine system put in place for fish from delivery, usually a week-long quarantine. Well, my local ones do. Does the water that you use for your tank fit in with what current fish you have? (parameters) That's a huge factor for the species that you can keep.

Tank size may be an issue for that pleco as well I think. @CassCats has more experience with plecos than I do.

 

[Fishkeeper123]

I have already had a discussion on other forums on the tank size and have decided that if it outgrows the tank I will get and new one and I’m already planning to get a new tank( probably 200l next year.) I think the water parameters would be okay. I currently have an unheated tank but have a heater I am going to add a few days before I get the pleco. All my levels are low for ammonia and nitrite. Thanks for the help I just am concerned that if I add the pleco it might have a horrible internal worms and kill the Garras. Would this happen?

 

[seangee]

1 BN in a 75l should be fine. Be aware they are messy so you may see a lot more muck than you are used to for a few weeks. Either keep an eye on ammonia / nitrite for the first few weeks or do extra water changes.
For QT just reserve it and tell them you can't pick it up for xx days, so will they keep it for you

 

[MattW]

I just am concerned that if I add the pleco it might have a horrible internal worms and kill the Garras. Would this happen?

I'd be very shocked if Maidenhead had nonquarantined fish for sale. An ex-store manager of a Maidenhead branch said they always dosed newly stocked tanks for a week period with general medication before selling.

 

[Fishkeeper123]

I'd be very shocked if Maidenhead had nonquarantined fish for sale. An ex-store manager of a Maidenhead branch said they always dosed newly stocked tanks for a week period with general medication before selling.

I was unsure but I have been very happy with all the fish I have bought from there but had just read that to quarantine as fish and that it will ruin your aquarium if you don’t so just wanted some advice.

 

[Fishkeeper123]

1 BN in a 75l should be fine. Be aware they are messy so you may see a lot more muck than you are used to for a few weeks. Either keep an eye on ammonia / nitrite for the first few weeks or do extra water changes.
For QT just reserve it and tell them you can't pick it up for xx days, so will they keep it for you

What water changes would you recommend for the stocking I will have currently I do roughly 25/30% every 2 weeks currently and have no ammonia and nitrite on the tests

 

[seangee]

What water changes would you recommend for the stocking I will have currently I do roughly 25/30% every 2 weeks currently and have no ammonia and nitrite on the tests

I am one of those crazy people who change 50-75% in every tank every week. Maybe not necessary but I have almost zero experience with illness and my last BN lived to be 19 years old. Here is part of his tale

 

[Fishkeeper123]

He sounds amazing I hope mine will live that long . How big was your tank and is that what I will have to do or will something like 50% every 2 weeks be possible or will I have to do it more often?

 

[CassCats]

You might have issues with this stocking, imo. Both panda garra and a BN pleco in a smaller tank, this could be a big issue with territory, plus panda garra and BN both get a decent size in their own right as well. You may definitely want to upgrade in the future

Adult domestic bristlenose size.

Because of their size and bioload, a 114 liter minimum is usually better for domestic bristlenose, unless you are breeding a pair in a species only setup. But a community, water parameters will be more forgiving in a larger tank. So, I'd be preparing to upgrade if you go with this fish, and you should be good. You'd want to monitor the garra with the pleco, they could fight over space in too small of a tank. Garra can be turds.


What are the dimensions of the tank? You have what most would call a 20 gallon, but there's a couple shapes of this size, and not all will be good at all. A long you could get away with it for a short while with an upgrade plan. Do plan on lots of water changes too. I do 75-90% on my own tanks every week, at bare minimum 50%, but more is better.

 

[Jinx_]

I don't recommend not quarantaining any fish and other critters. Maidenhead Aquatics sold me amanos with molt issues, rest died but a female survived and I still have her. They sold me fish with parasites in the past too.

So I recommend expecting everything, MA is a chain store.

 

[Jinx_]

You might have issues with this stocking, imo. Both panda garra and a BN pleco in a smaller tank, this could be a big issue with territory, plus panda garra and BN both get a decent size in their own right as well. You may definitely want to upgrade in the future

Adult domestic bristlenose size.
View attachment 355474

Because of their size and bioload, a 114 liter minimum is usually better for domestic bristlenose, unless you are breeding a pair in a species only setup. But a community, water parameters will be more forgiving in a larger tank. So, I'd be preparing to upgrade if you go with this fish, and you should be good. You'd want to monitor the garra with the pleco, they could fight over space in too small of a tank. Garra can be turds.

What a chunky nugget

 

[GaryE]

Unquarantined fish are always a gamble, from any store, no matter how good. If the store is a bad one, chances are higher. I'm in another country, so I can't offer direct comments on Maidenhead.

Take a walk through and have a look at cleanliness and the health of the other fish. If it's good, then the risk is less.

When I buy fish from my best friend, I still quarantine. He has no control over how the fish were treated before he got them. His place, set up, routines and care couldn't be better, but ...

That said, I rarely see serious problems during the quarantine period.

 

[fishorama]

I think I would wait to buy a BN. Your tank is too small for an adult BN & adult garras long term. I think it's possible they will be pushy or fight a bit, they need room to get away. I've kept both species but not together. Are the BNs small, maybe locally bred? Needing to buy a new tank doesn't always work to our timelines, stuff happens. But if you could keep both the old & new bigger tank then you'd have a quarantine tank!!

As for quarantine, I do it from shops; a week is nice but not nearly long enough. But I don't necessarily QT fish from club friends I know & trust, unlike GaryE . When I ask "have you added a new fish in the last couple months?" I expect an honest answer. Also, unlike GaryE, I have had some problems during QT. Not often, but I'm always glad I did it when there are issues, some very bad 1s! You have to weigh the chance of something killing all your fish & the bother of QT.

You know, you can use a large plastic tote for temporary QT. It's harder to see the fish & their health, but better than no QT. All you need is a filter with cycled media, a hiding place & maybe some plants you don't mind throwing out if there are issues & maybe a heater. I have BNs in an unheated tank but "room temp" in winter might be different for you than me.

 

[Jinx_]

But best piece of advice I could give... just avoid chain stores. Non chain local stores are bit better, but still have their issues. Could order online off like eBay from private breeders. I got my guppies from one, and couldn't be happier with my little guys