Pleco

[purpleflower]

I have a common pleco and I really want a fancy one, can I add another pleco to my tank or will they not get along? 240 liters = 63. gallons and 121cm = 46 inches.
I wouldnt mind giving my pleco to the pet store as I took it from a friend as it out grew her tank. the plecos only tank mates are one swordtail and two females.

 

[toddnbecka]

You'll definitely want to get rid of the common pleco, it will quickly outgrow your tank as well. As for compatability, it shouldn't be a problem short-term.

 

[JenCliBee]

IME common plecs are really quite peaceful slighlty terratorial at times but not agreesive any smaller plec would be fine in that size tank but depending on which 1 u get depends on the diet required just find 1 u like and have a good read up on it plecofanatics is a superb site for plec info.... but in time u will probably have 2 get rid of the common anyways as todd says they grow huge and extreamly quickly 2.


hope that helped


jen

 

[nmonks]

It isn't a good idea to mix plecs. Many species are very territorial, so it depends a lot on the particular combination of catfish. Large Panaque as well as Acanthicus for example are well known for their aggressive territoriality when combined with other loricariids, and species from both genera have been reliably reported to kill weaker specimens when kept together. If the two catfish can't stay apart from one another, the bigger and stronger specimen will literally strip the skin away from the body of the weaker specimen using their teeth. Although less commonly reported, I have heard of situations where the common plec Pterygoplichthys has done the same thing.

If you want to keep multiple Loricariidae, the best approach is to choose smaller species that can have their territorial requirements more easily met. Ancistrus and small Panaque (such as Panaque maccus) seem to work well. These are going to claim an area about 30 cm by 30 cm, with their nest somewhere in the middle. If you want to add a catfish that will coexist with your common plec, then I'd heartily recommend something completely different, so that territorial issues aren't a problem. A medium sized Syno, like Synodontis decorus, or one of the larger Callichthyidae, such as Hoplosternum littorale, would be ideal.

Cheers, Neale

I have a common pleco and I really want a fancy one, can I add another pleco to my tank or will they not get along?

 

[purpleflower]

wow it would out grow a 121cm in length tank?? woah! ya think I should give it to a pet store , who will just sell it on to someone who doesn't know any better I think the larger pleco's should be banned from normal pet stores, it's not fair on anyone.

 

[JenCliBee]

wow it would out grow a 121cm in length tank?? woah! ya think I should give it to a pet store , who will just sell it on to someone who doesn't know any better I think the larger pleco's should be banned from normal pet stores, it's not fair on anyone.

yep common plecs can grow upto around 24 inches thats half the size of ur tank lol and normally much wider than the average tank size 2 so yes in time it will outgrow


jen

 

[purpleflower]

I found this post most helpful -30 Plecos Under 8 Inches, Pet stores should really be registered or monitored or something! my local pet store is good and they know alot but when i tried to convince them that they were selling Chinese algae eaters and not otto's they wouldn't believe me! they had the algae eaters labeled as ottos! i can see how easy the mistake was made, i think some fish seller probably mislead the pet stores too!
before I buy my new pleco I am going to take a picture with my camera and then ID it over the internet better that way so i wont end up having to take it back

 

[Ian H]

i agree, the common plec should be banned from pet stores in my opinion and seomthing small like the bn plec should be its replacment.

I currently have 5 different species of plec in my tank and they are all doing fine with each other, but it is slightly bigger at 83gals and 60inches so maybe thats why?

I have:

1 x common plec (need to get rid of him before he destroys my lovely plants!!)
1 x male bristle nose plec (along with 4 babies)
1 x L018
1 x L201
1 x L134 (by far my favourite with the L018 close behind)

there may be a bit of hassle between the L018 and bn but nothing serious, normally only at feeding time