Tank size for group of 4 Baryancistrus Demantoides?

[Hyhy]

Already got the plecos over the last month or two, they are acclimating okay and seems to be eating.

For now I have them in existant tanks but planning on ordering a tank and setup it specifically for the group, who knows in some years maybe I get to write a breeding report even though that seems unlikely

The tanks I am thinking about so far are either 120x40x55cm, 130x50x50cm or 90x60x45cm. I am somewhat limited on space and budget but if I get feedback here saying that I would be, much, better off with a larger one I will consider saving for a month or two and make room.

My thinking is that 90x60 is a larger footprint than 120x40 but maybe the extra length would be more useful for making territories, then again I kinda despise "narrow" tanks. The 130x50 is more expensive but leaning towards shelling out for it for now.

The only other fish I wish/plan to put in the tank is a decently sized schoal of rummy nose tetras, maybe 40-50? My understanding is that they come from same river and some ditherfish is always nice in my opinion.

Will likely use this as project thread once the tank arrives but for now I would just like input on which size would okay(I realize thebiggerthebetter, yes I scimmed through Viktor's mastodont project thread before sleeping yesterday . .

Any thoughts?

[Hyhy]

Tank is ordered wen't with a 120x50x50(300 litres or 80~ gallon) tank. Should hopefully arrive at the end of this week will post pics then, maybe ill catch some of the plecos before that

If tank is smallish longterm I will have to save up for a large one but this will have to do for now.

Taking any tips when it comes to furbishing the tank, considering building up rock piles but might opt for a more simple one with just some boulders+pleco caves not sure yet.

[emanuel]

130x50x50 is ideal, but if you give them enough caves, even 120cm can be enough for a group of 4/6 demantoides.

[Hyhy]

Tank arrived, not much to say it's a glass box.

Tried to snag a couple of pics of the L200s in their temporar homes but they didn't really cooperate. Maybe the pictures will show the difference in size between the 2 larger ones and the 2 smaller ones, which is a slight concern for me. Will the smaller ones be happy with the larger ones or should I try to grow them out before combining all in the hopefully permanent tank?

They all like potatoes and herbivore cichlid flakes, yams has not been a huge hit(the smaller ones eat but not the larger ones, atleast I have never seen them eat it), green beans neither of the sizes eat so far. Interested in tips for what else I could try, that said I think they get enough food since bellies of the larger ones looks good, smaller ones came in pretty bad shape but seems to be on the right track.

Tommorow I will try to get tank in it's place, hate assembling these benches etc, and do some attempts at "hardscaping"(limited things to use but we will see).

Have a nice weekend.

[Torrance]

I have same idea. LOL

[Hyhy]

I have same idea. LOL

Well it's a beautiful pleco but kinda regret not going with subviridis since prospect of breeding demantoides seems abit bleak.

Been sick so not had the drive to do much with the tank, will have to happen during the upcoming week instead.

[emanuel]

Hyhy, Hello, in my opinion there is no problem to breed Baryancistrus of different sizes in the same tank. I've never kept demantoides, but I don't think it's any different from other plecos, as long as you always provide the group with enough caves for all sizes of fish and enough food for all.
Having never had demantoides, only H. subviridis, I'm not sure what to say about the food, but it's strange that they don't eat sweet potatoes and green beans, in theory it's a more herbivorous plec than H. subviridis. All my plecos, even the most "carnivorous" ones, go crazy for shelled peas and zucchini, try them. Then I heard that Baryancistrus love cucumbers, try them too, along with brussels sprouts
Finally, to attempt the reproduction, I would bring the group of demantoides to 6, buying two other small ones, in order to have more chances that they are females. The project of reproducing them is interesting and stimulating, since no one has ever succeeded!

[Hyhy]

@emanuel Thanks for the input. They do eat regular potatoes, zucchini, wafers, flakes etc so not that worried. I guess they simply don't recognise certain veggies as food yet, the two smaller ones have come around regarding yams and now eat them, but they do prefer regular potatoes still. I do treat them as herbivores and give little protein/meat.

I will setup the tank by Sunday at the latest but will see when I move the fish over, will use two established sponge filters but might buy a schoal of rummy nose tetras and use as pilot fish for a month or so.

As far as expanding the group? Might add one or two more when my bank account recovers, tank plus stand and the plecos themselves in addition to lights, caves, powerhead and so on sat me back a fair amount.

Or to quote a certain keeper of other cats "I will never financially recover from this".

Saw that you got some advice in your thread and hope they work out.

[emanuel]

the two smaller ones have come around regarding yams and now eat them, but they do prefer regular potatoes still.

How strange, even my plecos literally devour the sweet potatoes, while they have no enthusiasm for the normal ones, they take a few bites with little conviction, in fact I have stopped offering them altogether.

I will setup the tank by Sunday at the latest but will see when I move the fish over, will use two established sponge filters but might buy a schoal of rummy nose tetras and use as pilot fish for a month or so.

Good idea, if you have the possibility, I would also wait two months before putting the demantoides, so that the aquarium is really stable with the values, it is never a good idea to add plecos in a freshly started tank, even if you have filter materials "mature"

As far as expanding the group? Might add one or two more when my bank account recovers

yes yes, there is no rush