Gold Nugget Pleco

[Smalltank3]

I've been doing some reasearch on these guys and I read that they get up to 6 inches. They are very cool and I just found out my lfs has them. Do they poop as much as common plecos or as messy? I used to have a common pleco and it was messy. I thought I would never want to get a pleco again but then I found the Gold Nugget Pleco and all of what I thought about plecos changed by just one pleco So have you pleco lovers have any info for me because I would greatly appreciate it. Oh, and another thing, would it be okay to be in a ten gallon?

 

[PlecoCollector]

10 Gallon tank: No. No Pleco, no matter the size, should be kept in a 10 gallon tank, IMO. Sorry
Check out this Sticky on Gold Nuggests: http://www.myfishtank.net/forum/showthread.php?t=30317

Gold Nuggets require near perfect water conditions, driftwood, a variety of food, and little competetion for that food. I had a young one that I lost, probably because of it's small size and the fact that Plecs won't readily eat when they're first put in a tank. I'm waiting until my 90g is very very established before I try for that again.

 

[Lotus]

There's no way you could keep it in a 10g tank, not even if it was on its own. One 6" fish has a lot more body mass than six 1" fish, and so requires a lot more water.

They're great fish, but picky about water quality and they need a mature tank (6 months old, or more). They need careful acclimation and watching when they're first introduced. You also need to make sure they're eating, as they often starve to death in tanks.

 

[Pure]

Totally agree with what has been posted. I just want to add that the common notion that all gold nuggets get to only 6 inches is false.

There are at least 3 L numbers of this fish, and you have to make darn sure the one you buy is the dwarf of them, because the others grow to be VERY large, well over 10 inches in size.

This is pretty easy to do, but does take some research on your part to be able to just see the fish and know what L number it is.

But again NOT a fish suitable for a 10 gal.

Smack Pleco collector on the wrist time:
LDA08 is perfectly suited for a 10 and is the ONLY one I know of that is small enough. *hugs* ya know I luv ya.

 

[Smalltank3]

Ok thanks everyone for telling me the information and pure thanks I'll research on the LDA08!

 

[PlecoCollector]

Smack Pleco collector on the wrist time:
LDA08 is perfectly suited for a 10 and is the ONLY one I know of that is small enough. *hugs* ya know I luv ya.

You're so mean
Making fun of me just because I don't know every L number... or the fact that there was such a small Pleco... now I want one! Feed the obsession... feed the obsession... *crazysmil

 

[Pure]

I have 8 babies, and a guy in Tampa sending me more from dif blood lines. These guys are slow and I mean slow growers. grrrrrrr

Naa not making fun of ya. You know better than that. Just giving you an edjimacation.

 

[wayne]

Did you breed them yourself? Somoene I know here has bred them , it struck as being distinctly hard work

 

[Pure]

No not yet, I'm always up for a challenge. Hardest part seems to be waiting on these dang things to grow. Oh well I'm in no hurry.

 

[wayne]

Well get some Tunze streams , they are going to be calling for some real water movemnt, plus a high degree of water quality and oxygenation. They will need to be a few years old, and of some size. How big, fast they grow is reliant on how much you feed them....