Tough Pleco suggestions

Murfins · Post by **Murfins** » 20 Jul 2007, 21:30

I have an adult Firemouth cichlid that is a bit of a jerk ... I am looking for suggestions for a tough Pleco up to 8" ... one with serious armour is what I'm thinking.

Thank you in advance for suggestions.

Alyssa

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 20 Jul 2007, 21:52

It is a bit difficult to find a pleco that is both tough and "stays relatively small". The genus of "Common pleco" is about as tough as plecos get, but they easily reach 12-15" in size.

My only other suggestion would be a large common bristlenose .

Of course, almost all plecos are tough from a "mechanical" aspect - they all have "armour" in the form of bony scutes. But they still have vulnerabilities. The common forms are common because they are easy to keep together with most fish, tolerate a wide variety of water conditions (I have a that has lived in a Malawi tank for the last several years - and "he" is still in with the Malawians in their "liquid concrete" water - which by the way is the about the same water-conditions as for your central american fish too).

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Mats

Murfins · Post by **Murfins** » 21 Jul 2007, 01:04

Hmm ... we had a Common Pleco in with him but it was only about 3" and he got his fins torn up pretty good. I think I just have to get an adult ... not a Common though, I already have a few of those in other tanks.

Maybe a different Catfish would be better?

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 21 Jul 2007, 09:36

The question here is of course "why do you want another fish in there" - if you have a fish that doesn't "tolerate others", then it's probably best to leave it alone.

If you have "a few commons in other tanks", why not rehome one of those in this tank, and replace it with something else in the tank where it used to be?

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Mats

wrasse · Post by **wrasse** » 21 Jul 2007, 11:33

If your tank is big enough, say- 4ft plus, add other central American cichlids. Before you add anything, re-arrange the tank decor so they can all establish their own territories. Right now, the whole tank is the firemouth's territory. A catfish in that set-up must have caves where it can rest undisturbed. It needs to be fast enough to get its fair share of food - maybe a synodontis or a pim.