Plec

[demonmagus]

Hi, I am wondering if there is such thing out there as a plec which grows to around 10-12 inches, and which won't rearrange my plants.

 

[Animation]

L-014 Goldy pleco 12-14 dosen't mess with my plants

 

[smithrc]

L-014 Goldy pleco 12-14 dosen't mess with my plants

you wait till he's 10-12" - one flick of the tail and they will be all over the place

not to mention the digging

 

[Animation]

I saw mine digging today round my bog wood to get to the mussel, was great to watch as i have never really seen him out!
I think i read they have teeth but never seen them, is this true?

 

[smithrc]

I saw mine digging today round my bog wood to get to the mussel, was great to watch as i have never really seen him out!
I think i read they have teeth but never seen them, is this true?

not seen ours either.. but they have 4 'rasping plates' that do look like 4 set of teeth

Back to topic....

most large plecs will be able to wreck a planted tank quite easily... if it will or not is a different matter.

We've put bogwood at the base of our plants to stop them being uprooted too easily - our 12" common has not managed to wreck the tank yet

 

[Durbkat]

Yeah you just wait even my 5" common pleco can knock the plants out of the gravel and he does this weekly at least and I have to just re plant them.

 

[big mick]

My bristlenose dont munch my plants although I have heard peple say they are bad for it but not in my experience.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

All foot long plecs will have issues with knocking plants over, their body shape and the way they move makes it very difficult for them to get around in a planted tank as they like to be able to swim fast from one end of the tank to the other every now and then- i find with my plecs, they have no issues at all with the plants though...

If you only plant/decorate 50% of the tank, and leave the sides of the tank open with the main bulk of open space being at the front of the tank, you will find the plecs will avoid the planted areas as long as they have these open swim-ways around the tank for them to use. When it comes to down to it, you cant expect them to just stay in one end of the tank all the time, so its best it you decorate the tank allowing them to use the sides of the tank as well as the back and front- when it comes down to it they dont pull plants up for fun and they dont like getting tangled/caught up in plants- if you observe many plecs natural habitats, you will find they prefer to occupy the open areas rather than densely planted ones- this is also how they have evolved to live.

 

[Barkley]

i have a 12" common sailfin who has rearranged the plants soooooooo many times that i have given up so what survives survives

 

[demonmagus]

thanks for the help, and also will a common be fine in a juwel 240?