Pleco advise and comparability

by **isellcars** » Tue May 29, 2012 11:58 pm

I have a 90g planted community tank and for some reason I keep having problems with golden nugget plecos (L-18). I have had 2 already and the first listed about 2 weeks. I waited a few months and bought another one, that one seemed to be doing very good and then after 3 months I come home and he's dead. There are me bite marks or scratches anywhere on them. It's just a mystery and I really want to try again cause I think they are the best looking plecos.
I also have a clown pleco, a BN and 2 pitbull (LDA25) plecos. All of them are doing great and have never had any problems. The clown was very territorial at first but he has even calmed down and is more tolerant to others coming near his space. I also have 4 Cory cats and 8 Otto cats.
My water parameters seem to be fine and the only thing I did different when my last GN died was change an ammonia filter in my sump tank.
If these are just very picky then is there another colorful pleco that stays about the 4-6"?

by **Birger** » Wed May 30, 2012 1:45 am

Can you explain what you have been feeding this tank.

Birger

by **isellcars** » Wed May 30, 2012 1:52 am

Tropical flakes, algae wafers, tropical sinking pellets, shrimp pellets, frozen bloodworms, and frozen brine shrimp. Of course not all of this everyday but I do feed 2 different types a day and the bloodworms and brine once or twice a week.
My tank has several different types of tetras, mollies, platties and shrimp. So I feed a variety for all of them to enjoy.

by **Jools** » Wed May 30, 2012 11:29 am

Have you read this? Basically, Baryancistrus aren't good community tank fish.

Jools

by **Richard B** » Wed May 30, 2012 11:49 am

Gold nuggets are tricky/problematic when imported and newly introduced to tanks - if you really want to keep this species you might wanna try getting a specimen from another keeper who has had it long term. They do need much warmer water than most species and are sensitive to nitrates - much more than the other loricariids you have. They also get a fair bit bigger than 6" and IMHO their colours and pattern are much less impressive when they reach maturity.

"Colourful" is quite subjective but you could consider L075 peckoltia, L128 or maybe one of the hypancistrus?

by **isellcars** » Wed May 30, 2012 4:04 pm

Thanks for the info. I'm not sure who is to blame more for the deaths of the 2 I had.....myself for not reading more about them or the lfs that told me they are great in any community tank.
I would like to get another pleco, ideally no more then 4" but gets along with others and is not so difficult to keep. I will just start to read up on all the different ones I like. Knowing my luck I will find one I like that is near impossible to get in my area.

by **todd1978** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 8:12 pm

L18-81 also prefer a much stronger water current and benefit a manifold system like those used for asian loach tanks, L177 golden nugget are much more tolerent of slower moving water. Other than that you could try another pleco species, plenty of good looking plecs out there.

by **isellcars** » Tue Jun 26, 2012 2:44 am

I have a clown, a bn and 2 pitbull plecos. I just wanted something with a bit of color that stays around 4" and not really more then 6".

by **Jools** » Tue Jun 26, 2012 7:33 am

For the reasons I've posted above, I'd avoid Baryancistrus. With the other catfish you have I'd also avoid anything from the warmer Xingu. Personally I'd just add more of the Parotocinclus jumbo but you could also look at Hemiancistrus subviridis.

Jools

by **isellcars** » Tue Jun 26, 2012 4:45 pm

Thanks Jools....I have thought about just adding a few more pitbull plecos. I might also add another bn and clown. Just need to confirm the sex I have....I don't mind 2 females but don't want 2 males of each.