What Do You Keep With Your Plecs?

[Leonwillow]

What tankmates do you have with your plecs?

One of my tanks looks really empty at the moment. I have loads of bogwood in there which I'm really pleased with but fish-wise it contains only plecs and a couple of small silver sharks.

I was thinking of getting some discus to add some interest when my plecs are hiding. The tank is heavily over filtered so I'm a little concerned the current may be too strong as I have read that discus prefer still water. I could always redirect the flow I suppose.

Current inhabitants
L273
L239
Hyp. Luteus
L128
L333
L114

Do you think these plecs would bother the discus at all? Anybody have experience of mixing discus and plecs?

Thanks - if anybody has any pictures of their tanks I'd love to see them.

 

[ghent_3rd]

OK here goes......

I am no expert Leon but have doen loads of research so I will give you my best point of view.

Discus do better in slow flow so that could be a problem and they also prefer warmer temps circs 30 deg celsius so you would have be 110% sure your plecs would be OK with this. I have also heard that there is a possibility that some plecs may latch onto the side of discus and suck on their slime-coats. This could also happen with Angels although Angels don't need higher temps but may struggle slightly in the faster flow of your tank.

D o you know exactly what the turnover rate of your tank isper hour as this would help in determining tankmates. I have found that a good shoal of tetra is great for a plec tank, something like the Emperor tetra or Glowlights if you want a large shoal of small fish. Also Hatchet fish are from the same region and will occupy the top of the tank. Rams are another alternative although personally I prefer the colours of the Apistos and they tend to be a little less aggressive.

There is a lot out there Leon, just make sure you do your research!!

Hope this helps mate and hope somebody else can give first hand experience of plecs and discus??

 

[Leonwillow]

Thanks for the response - much appreciated.

I have 2 large ext filters in my tank that each turnover the contents 6.5 times an hour.

Was wanting something quite big rather than a shoal. I do quite like apistos but just think discus look so graceful - especially next to a clumsy looking plec.

 

[paul_219]

I keep sharks with my pleco.

 

[Darkehorse]

I'm no expert either, but it seems like these guys would look nice in a large tank.

Boesemani rainbows (Melanotaenia boesemani)
-Darke

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

How many gallons is the tank? Its hard to advise any fish without knowing such info.
I mostly keep livebearers like platys and guppys with my plecos because they come in such a wide variety of colours and patterns and are very friendly and inquisitive little fish .

 

[LisaLQ]

I can vouch for the boesmannis, but be warned that they seem to be susceptable to columnaris, bit like angels. I bought seven, and only managed to keep four alive - and however much I want to increase the numbers, I dont want to risk columnaris in my tank again!

Like someone else said, we cant really suggest anything without tank size - but if you have a decent sized tank, rainbow cichlids do well with plecs (very peaceful), and most community fish are fine.

I wouldn't keep bigger cichlids with anything other than the big monster plecs (commons, gibbies, larger royals etc). Having lost a flash plec and an L203 to two 2" festivums, I wouldn't recommend them to anyone lol.

I dont think discus are a good idea. Even if you ignore the horror stories about plecs latching onto them - discus need exceptionally clean water, and plecs wouldn't be the best option as tank mates lol. Well, not if they poo as much as my lot!

 

[stang1]

We keep Ticto and Pentazona Barbs as well as Bleeding Heart Tetras and 2 Keyhole Cichlids with ours. I know you aren't keen on having shoaling fish but they do look great when they all decide to shoal together!

 

[ghent_3rd]

I had 5 Pentazona's in my old tank and wish I'd transferred them in to my new tank. Awesome little fish, like a Tiger Barb without the aggression!!!

Also sometimes seen in the trade as 5-banded-barb.

 

[xingumike]

if you dont mind breaking the biotope, puntius denisoni, the denison barb or red torpedo barb is an awesome looking fish and peaceful as well

 

[Leonwillow]

I'm no expert either, but it seems like these guys would look nice in a large tank.

Boesemani rainbows (Melanotaenia boesemani)
-Darke

Many thanks for the replies.

I really like the look of the Boesemani rainbows. will def add some of those. Thanks for the advice about columnaris.

Thanks again.

 

[geo7x]

I'm no expert either, but it seems like these guys would look nice in a large tank.

Boesemani rainbows (Melanotaenia boesemani)
-Darke

Many thanks for the replies.

I really like the look of the Boesemani rainbows. will def add some of those. Thanks for the advice about columnaris.

Thanks again.

what size is the tank??