Adding another type of Loricariidae

[beardedbillygoat1975]

I recently posted about the trouble I had with my L204s. They were my first non ancistrus L# plecos.

I’ve certainly learned a lot from my mistakes. When I look online there are tons of reported experts touting which l# is best to start with. Wondering in your opinion which non-ancistrus L# would you tell an intermediate aquarist to work with?

Looking to do a better job the second time around and appreciate any advice and recommendations.

[bekateen]

If you like L204, start with a clown pleco. They are related species (same genus) and they are tough. They'll give you good experience.

Cheers, Eric

[Jools]

I don't know if you want to breed them as well as keep them well. Most

Hypancistrus

are also easy to keep and readily breedable. There are less expensive ones that would be a good option. If you've got the space, I'd go with a group of

L066

.

Jools

[thijsaquarium]

I'm with Eric, I've had clown plecos and they're very easy (need wood though). They're also very common and cheap, so you're relatively low risk. Most hypancistrus species are also quite easy, but you'll most likely need to feed a more meaty / omnivorous diet than the clown pleco.

[dw1305]

Hi all,

.........I’ve certainly learned a lot from my mistakes. When I look online there are tons of reported experts touting which l# is best to start with. Wondering in your opinion which non-ancistrus L# would you tell an intermediate aquarist to work with?.........

I'm really sorry for your loss, but I'm guessing that pretty much everybody who has ever kept fish will have had a similar experience. I've got better, but I realise that I've just prolonged the interval between disasters, rather than eliminated them altogether.

Bearing that in mind it isn't so much a recommendation for a fish as such, but a recommendation to try and understand the reasons why plecs (Loricariids))(and particularly rheophilic plecs) are different in their fundamental requirements from many other fish.

The heart of the matter is that if you <"can't maintain high levels of dissolved oxygen">, at all times, then both your fish, and you, are in for a lot of distress and heart-ache.

cheers Darrel

[beardedbillygoat1975]

Appreciate the replies everyone. I think Clown Plecos make a lot of sense. Maybe start there then expand out to a Hypancistrus.
If you were going to recommend a first Hypancistrus which would you recommend?

[bekateen]

If you were going to recommend a first Hypancistrus which would you recommend?

L201

,

Hypancistrus debilittera

or

L333

.

Cheers, Eric