Tank mates

[Alexx]

I know that the best way to breed is to keep single species tank! But I would like to hear what else could you keep with plecs.

Thanks.

[bekateen]

Corys, tetras... even some other plecos.

The answer to your question really lies in what what pleco species you have and what you want to keep with them. And also, tank size and decor matter a lot too. Myself, I keep Hypancistrus with Panaqolus, Peckoltia with Panaqolus, Baryancistrus with Ancistomus, and Hemiancistrus with Panaqolus... and all of them with corys.

Cheers, Eric

[Alexx]

I'm gonna setup a 40 breeder tank for hypancistrus maybe 6 to 8 but I know a tank like that will leave some room for something else. I just wanted to hear if anybody here keeps other things in their breeding tanks.

[Bas Pels]

A breeder tank ought to be for only 1 species. If not chances of predation of the fry will be too high, or competition for food or caves

[Tony4143]

Breeders should one be with breeders, its like saying you want to be intimate with your partner with the kids in the room even thought the room is big.

[TwoTankAmin]

Breeding fish is a disruptive process in terms of how the fish live. Start with the fact that almost no spawning tank actually resembles nature in terms of it's area/volume, terrain, flow, inhabitants etc. Even a display tank becomes disruptive with maintenance. But a breeding tank involves lots of cleaning, lots of water changes and a desire to maximize the numbers of offspring produced. And this doesn't cover things like pulling eggs, wigglers or fry. These things are all stressful to fish to some extent, and stress can affect spawning and fish health. Dealing with dithers will only magnify disruptions, imo.

I have always chosen to spawn my plecos in species tanks. Since most of the species which I have kept and am working with are pretty pricey, there is an economic consideration. If one spends anywhere from $50 to many $100s per fish, the last thing we want to have happen is for them to die. This has led me to conclude that the potential for introducing disease or parasites because of adding another species is asking for potential problems. I would hate to lose multi-$100 fish because I added a school of dithers which cost a fraction a single breeder.

My other issue with mixing in other species is that one needs to insure there is 0 chance such species will eat eggs or fry and will not interfere with the breeding species getting adequate food. This can also mean not allowing breeders to eat foods they should not because a dither species needs a different diet.

I also know it one is careful and chooses species which can be mixed successfully, it can work. But, I think the main reason for combining species is usually the result of space considerations.

One last anecdote re all of this. I mostly work with the b&w lined Hypans from the Rio Xingu. But I have also worked with H. contradens and L450s. I have avoided combining the offspring in growout tanks for fear of not being able to differentiate them when they are small. However being pressed for space I figured I could mix L450 with contradens since one is striped and the other spotted. Lines and spots are easy to distinguish. I delivered 5 L450s to a buyer. About 10 months later we met at an event. He told me one of the fish had turned out to be a contradens. When small fish are stressed from being chased, caught and bagged they all fade and blur. I offered to give him another 450 ay no charge and to keep the contradens as well,but he said not it was not necessary as he really like the spotted guy.

[Jobro]

Red Cherry Shrimps are a great pick as tankmates

Like Chris said, I also tend to be very carefull with adding new dither fish, too. The risk of contaminating the breeders is high.

However, almost all smaller tetras are compatible with plecos. They won't eat the eggs or hunt fry. At least not in my experience. I like the freshwater hatchetfish. They will always stay on the surface of the tank and won't bother with bottom dwellers at all. However, these guys are super suicidal and will use any chance to jump out of your tank