Stocking Tank

[kalihat]

I'm about purchase a 55 gal. The person I am buying from has a jack dempsey that needs to be sold first. I was wondering if I could buy it, but I think it may be too much fish in one tank. I'll have four large angels, a common pleco, a black moor (he shouldn't be there too long) and some cories. I wasn't planning on getting any more fish, but I'd be willing to buy the jack dempsey if the owner can't find a home, but only if it won't be too much in one tank and if it would co-habitate with my angels. They're my first concern.

Thanks for any help!

 

[divisible by zero]

I'm pretty sure that would be a negative on mixing JD and Angels

 

[orange shark]

and you'd need to get rid of the common plec first they get too big for a 55g!

orange shark

 

[kalihat]

and you'd need to get rid of the common plec first they get too big for a 55g!

orange shark

I'd was going to keep him as long as I can (untill he gets too big). What length is too big? And what type of pleco is good for a 55?

 

[Matty P]

Now is too big.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Fish get stunted (don't grow, and die quickly) when not in a proper tank. Common Plecos can get to be 2 feet long in some reports. If you keep your Pleco, he will not get very big, due to improper housing, so you will not see him get "too big."

I suggest, just like Matty, to take him out now.

 

[Josiah]

I wouldn't put the JD in with the angels, I could be wrong but I think the JD would kill them.

 

[PRW1988]

Now is too big.

How is now too big? you don't even know the size of the common pleco. I have a gibby plec that's 4" in my 55gallon tank and I'll be moving him when he reaches about 10", just because something can out grow a tank doesn't mean that he HUGE fish won't be fine for a short period of time.

Personally I know from experience that Jack Dempsys kill Angel fish terrible insident, it was sold to me as a Convict cichlid, guess the store didn't realize, but as soon as it started to grow a bit it killed 1 of my 5 angelfish and I knew then that I had to remove it.

 

[divisible by zero]

I have 2 common plecs that came with my 55G, one is about 8" and the other 6"
I did find a store that will take them in
A friend of mine had 3 in either a 75g or 125g tank, aprox 6'x2'x2.5', with a flourescent tube over the top, no gravel and an HOB and they all got to be about 18"

 

[stang1]

I wouldn't risk keeping the JD with your other fish as they can be quite aggressive and very territorial.
I also recommend rehoming your Common Pleco as the tank is far too small, ideally they need at least a 5ft+.
It's always best to stock your tank according to the size that they will reach, rather than what size they are now. A lot of people have every intention of upgrading their tank in the future but they don't know what will happen in the meantime that could prevent it from happening. It's unfair on the fish and the owner to keep a fish for a long time and then have to rehome it after it has become so settled in a tank.

 

[kalihat]

Thanks to everyone that responded! I have a pet store in town that can take my pleco. I always knew I'd have to get rid of him eventually. As for the JD, he can find another home! Thanks for the advice! Anyone have any recommendations for a pleco for a 55gal? And one that's not horribly expensive or hard to find. Thanks again everyone!

P.S. Is there anyone around north Louisiana that would want a nice common pleco?

 

[PRW1988]

A nice small pleco for a 55gallon tank would be either Bushy nosed plecos, or Rubberlip plecos. Both species get to about 5" max.