Gibbiceps In An L-number Community?

[Stampos]

Hi guys,

Firstly, would I be able to keep a Gibbiceps in a 60x18x24? It's 110gal with a 30gal sump (I am concerned it may not be deep enough for the Gibbi to turn)

The other L's in my tank will be, 1x L200 "Hemiancistrus subviridis", 1x L168 "Dekeyseria brachyura", 1x L075 "Peckoltia sabaji", 1x L47 "Peckoltia sabaji" and a breeding group of Ancistrus cf. cirrhosus

Secondly, I have read they are "voracious" eaters, and can dominate smaller plecs at feeding time - would spot feeding help this? i.e. cucumber fed at either end of the tank, random scattering of algae tabs etc.

I have seen a 10" sailfin Gibbi at my LFS and found him to be beautiful but wouldn't want to get him if I can't give him a good home.

 

[skippy_49nz]

I don't really know enough about the others to comment on territoriality or aggression but no fish can be everywhere at once so spreading the food around the tank would definitely solve that question.

 

[JenCliBee]

To honestly answer your question, no... the tank even though quite big has enough plecs in as it is, you will be adding another that has a potential to get to 2 foot. They are generally aggressive when larger and wont allow anything usually to eat there food.

You have quite an easy group to feed being they are all pretty much veg eaters so dietary wise you would be fine.

I personally wouldnt add a gibbi, to me the tank is potentially to small with it only been 18 inches deep.

I think it was typo by you but the L47 is a magnum/mango plec (Baryancistrus) not a sabaji

 

[Stampos]

To honestly answer your question, no... the tank even though quite big has enough plecs in as it is, you will be adding another that has a potential to get to 2 foot. They are generally aggressive when larger and wont allow anything usually to eat there food.

You have quite an easy group to feed being they are all pretty much veg eaters so dietary wise you would be fine.

I personally wouldnt add a gibbi, to me the tank is potentially to small with it only been 18 inches deep.

I think it was typo by you but the L47 is a magnum/mango plec (Baryancistrus) not a sabaji

That'll teach me to copy and paste! Yes, I meant the Magnum plec

I suspected I wouldn't be able to house him but it's for the best really as I wouldn't want to grow him out then inevitably get rid of him.

I wanted a "centrepiece" fish that was pretty large to compliment the tank - so I assume a Royal Panaque "Watermelon" is out of the question too? I don't have all the stocking yet, just the L200, L168 and Ancistrus.

Any reasonably large plecs you could recommend?

Thanks,

Simon

 

[JenCliBee]

To honestly answer your question, no... the tank even though quite big has enough plecs in as it is, you will be adding another that has a potential to get to 2 foot. They are generally aggressive when larger and wont allow anything usually to eat there food.

You have quite an easy group to feed being they are all pretty much veg eaters so dietary wise you would be fine.

I personally wouldnt add a gibbi, to me the tank is potentially to small with it only been 18 inches deep.

I think it was typo by you but the L47 is a magnum/mango plec (Baryancistrus) not a sabaji

That'll teach me to copy and paste! Yes, I meant the Magnum plec

I suspected I wouldn't be able to house him but it's for the best really as I wouldn't want to grow him out then inevitably get rid of him.

I wanted a "centrepiece" fish that was pretty large to compliment the tank - so I assume a Royal Panaque "Watermelon" is out of the question too? I don't have all the stocking yet, just the L200, L168 and Ancistrus.

Any reasonably large plecs you could recommend?

Thanks,

Simon

You could possibly leave the 75 and the 47 and go for the gibbi and just pray that he only gets to the average of 15-18inches, the tank wouldn't really be to overstocked that way and you could in theory just manage.

There are plenty of larger plecs you could go for but the problem is staple diets, you have a nice list that as i said eat veg or primarily eat veg. Adding something that prefers a slightly more meatier diet may well cause problems.

How about an L001 from my experience these tend to stay more the 12-14 inch size but again a potential for 18inch so would be a consideration i guess?

Any larger plec 'could' get aggression with age, some are more placid than you would ever imagine, unless you actually try you will never truly know. The only thing with doing just that is 'if' he does decide to take a disliking to other plecs and a large size getting rid is not only heartbreaking to you/the owner but much harder to.. lets say ..palm off to someone else who can care for it adequately.

Edited to say, the watermelon is a consideration the actual 16 inch claimed size is not usually obtained from my experience but yes it could get that size. Stunning plec aswell

 

[Stampos]

That's a great help, thank you

I think I will go with the Panaque as it is the shape and colouring, as well as their eyes which makes me want one

Are they ok in a new set up? I'll be seeding the sump with media from my canister I currently run, then running both the canister and sump together. I am not sure if the prefer an older tank with lots of algae build up and so on?

 

[JenCliBee]

That's a great help, thank you

I think I will go with the Panaque as it is the shape and colouring, as well as their eyes which makes me want one

Are they ok in a new set up? I'll be seeding the sump with media from my canister I currently run, then running both the canister and sump together. I am not sure if the prefer an older tank with lots of algae build up and so on?

People will say different but plecs would be my first choice to add to a newly established tank, i would keep a close eye on the stats but as long as the tank is nice and stable they should be all fine.

Just to add, if you do decide on the panaque. It will require wood in the tank

 

[skippy_49nz]

I've been told the royals get pretty aggressive when they get bigger and aren't suitable to have other similar sized plecos in with them. I only have a small one so i can't say one way or the other.

My sisters L001 seems to be a trouble magnet and everything else picks on it so from my own experience they would be off the list of options.

 

[JenCliBee]

I've been told the royals get pretty aggressive when they get bigger and aren't suitable to have other similar sized plecos in with them. I only have a small one so i can't say one way or the other.

My sisters L001 seems to be a trouble magnet and everything else picks on it so from my own experience they would be off the list of options.

He really hasn't got anything on the list to real cause concern for the L001 apart from as you say the panaque, yes they can become aggressive and yes quite often can cause trouble, however each is really to there own. Ive seen some very very placid royals, same as ive seen some very placid commons/gibbi's but unless people try but if any trouble really does start to happen you have a place to remove it to, you will never know one way or another .

The only plec really to maybe cause grief to the L001 IMO would be the L47, have seen a couple of quite aggressive ones in my time.

Other than that i will still stay to my original opinion of what would be suitable.