Pleco question

[lovebug]

Ok i know that Pleco's poop alot. Well, I know it now. I have a 35 gallon bow front tank. Use a Aquaclear 300 filter with sponge, charcoal and ammonia inserts. Water quality is consistantly good (It is tested every week with water change). And water is clear, tank walls are clean.

Moved the fish about 2 weeks ago and all is well. All fish survived and are happy in their new homes. We have: 2 Pleco's, 7 Zebra danios, 3 green fire tetras, and 5 red minor tetras. The smaller pleco's output has increased dramatically though. Did water change and vacuumed gravel just yesteday and within 4 hours there was again a large amount of pleco waste deposited on the gravel. Only one pleco is doing this.

Is there something that I can do to decrease the output of my pleco? Or something that would be interested in cleaning up after him?

Thanks!
Emily

 

[pyackel]

I have a small pleco that does the same. He always has a string of poop - kind'a resembles those advertising airplanes with the waving banners tethered to the tail . Aside from trying to toilet train him the only thing you can do is maybe try feeding him less.

 

[Jubilee]

Plecs are notorious for being dirty fish. You will just have to gravel vac consistantly for the entirety of the plecs lifespan. One reason why I don't keep plecs anymore.

 

[lovebug]

I am sure the answer is in this forum many time - so this is no doubt a question in bad form but, any suggestions on a "scrubby" fish to get instead of the plecs. And no i will not kill them - i will find them a good home - they deserve it

 

[pyackel]

Is it really that much of a problem? Perhaps because I have an undergravel filter with two powerheads I don't have the problem you have. Oh well - hope they find a nice home. Good luck.

 

[mike the zealot]

corys and otos make a good "scrubby team".. the otos get the algae and the corys get the junk off the bottom.

 

[Jubilee]

Ottos are the perfect algae eater. They stay small, do a great job, and won't eat live plants, but eat the algae off of the leaves.

 

[sinasster]

No fish really eat crap, but ghost shrimp seem to nibble on it.

 

[Antwan]

I seen my goldfish eat my oscar logs.

 

[fishman0]

Theres some kinda of cory that sometimes eats crap it's ,mostly brown and very ugly. Can't remember the name.