Pl*cos

[Bruckm]

Brown Bristlenose Pl*costomus 4"
Albinus Rubber Pl*costomus 4.5"
Clown Pl*costomus 4"
Flat Banded Butterfly Pl*costomus 4"
Flat Head Gold Spot Pl*costomus 5"
King Tiger Pl*costomus 4.5"

Researching results. Are these full-grown sizes correct?

Do any of these continue to eat algae as adults similar to how they will as juveniles?

Would any of these be complementary to Panda Corys and Otos?

Any a must-have? Are there any that I've missed that are small pl*cos?

I'm planning on switching all of my small tanks to a 55G, so whatever I add would have to be complimentary to what I already have.

 

[Lotus]

I have both clown plecos and rubberlipped plecos. As far as I can tell, the sizes are about right. The rubbernosed eats algae quite efficiently, the clown isn't a big algae eater (but they sure are cute). I have found both to be fine with most tankmates. Bear in mind that most plecos are territorial with their own kind. I have a rubbernosed and a clown both in a 55g, and they each have their territory, I wouldn't put another in there, though. I hear bristlenose plecos are good algae eaters.

 

[ashleigh]

this is a dumb question but have you seen clowns also sold under the common name of candy plec?

 

[TaffyFish]

I have a pair of adult bristlies which seem to have topped out at 4" and yes, they are excellent brown algae eaters.

 

[LongTime]

My rubberlip is not a good algae eater but my bristlenoses don't waste any time.

 

[dethjam316]

clowns and "candy plecs" (sometimes candystripe) are not the same thing, but i believe their care and sizes aren't very different.

 

[Megan]

Help!

Can plecos turn violent and kill your other fish?

I got a pleco a couple days ago and now I found 2 glo-light tetras, 2 neon tetras, a molly and another white tetra of some kind dead and half eaten. The pleco was eating the molly when I found it.

Anyone know what is happening???

 

[Purple]

Some Pl*cos are indeed parasitic - clamping onto other fish and chomping away.........but they don't turn up in your LFS that often (brings a new meaning to the term 'feeder fish' huh).

Mostly, Pl*cos only argue amongst themselves - usualy at feeding time, and as Lotus says - only if they don't have enough room - it's quite rare for them to attack other species (though they will feed on a corpse as they are scavengers by nature).

 

[Bruckm]

Can a clown and a bristlenose coexist in a 55g?

 

[wayne]

Yes. I always allowed a foot of floor space for smaller plecs and never had any problems

 

[Purple]

I've got a King Tiger and a Lemon spot in a 55 - both 5 inch fish - no problems. If they've got a foot of space as Wayne says then they're fine.