new bottomfeeders with cichlids

[fish_chic]

okay i just really wanted to know if the BN pleco that i got to help with the diatom problem in the 55 gal will be okay in there once the cobalts start getting bigger. they haven't touched him or anything its just that they are starting to get bigger and i have noticed that they are starting to get a bit more aggressive with each other. and i don't want him to be harrassed or anything. and the same thing goes with the raphael catfish i got him kind of on an impluse buy and figured he would be okay with the cichlids bc of his ablity to defend his or hers self with the spines on his body. so do you think i will be okay.

ps- just wanted to let everyone know that i have had them for a couple of weeks know. and i've been lazy with updating my sign.

 

[jessey]

i too am curious as to what bottom feeders do well in a cichlid tank. i've thought about eventually going cichlid in my 29 gallon tank (eventually.. not until i get my SW pico off the ground), but i wouldn't know who i could keep and who i couldn't.

 

[Cichlid-Man]

I've had BN's pestered and stressed to death by Mbuna before. They picked his bristles and constantly picked at him until he died. Was one heck of a brown algae eater before he died though......oh well.

I'd be more concerned about the BN then the Raphael cat in that tank personally.

 

[Helena21]

I keep a pair of BN's with a few of their offspring which at the smallest are 1 inch with my mbuna (saulosi), and the saulosi dont touch them..they are too interested in chasing eachother.

It may or may not work....*GOLDFISH*

 

[fish_chic]

okay then i will keep an eye on him. the cobalts are still small (1 1/2 inches) so they i am not worried right now about it. but if they do start to bother him i will put him in the 90 gal. thanks everyone

 

[Katie217]

im with helena, i have a common pleco in my mbuna tank and hes doing great, even at the high PH. also i have pictus cats in the mbuna tank too, they do fine too. so i'd have to say it sorta depends on the tank, because for matt it didnt work, but for others it has

 

[Cichlid-Man]

im with helena, i have a common pleco in my mbuna tank and hes doing great, even at the high PH. also i have pictus cats in the mbuna tank too, they do fine too. so i'd have to say it sorta depends on the tank, because for matt it didnt work, but for others it has

Well BN plecs and commons are a lot different. Commons are huge while BNs stay fairly small......and commons are like tanks. Its like comparing a hummvee with a tank. I do agree it varies for everyone, i've just had 2 BNs die due to pestering of Mbuna in 2 seperate tanks.

 

[Pure]

You need to provide a cave small enough just for the pleco to fit in and no one else, this will help protect him, If the BN is a male...once full grown will be a force to be reconed with, but even then if the cichlids pick at him too much he will probably stay in his cave all day and only come out at night.

 

[fish_chic]

You need to provide a cave small enough just for the pleco to fit in and no one else, this will help protect him, If the BN is a male...once full grown will be a force to be reconed with, but even then if the cichlids pick at him too much he will probably stay in his cave all day and only come out at night.

ya there are plenty of caves that are small enough for him to hide. he has one that he stays in know that is pretty big but none of the cichlids go in there now. so hopefully it will work out.