PlanetCatfish.com

Hi, I am thinking of getting a Pleco next week but have had mixed views from a few people I have spoken to (not on here) At the moment I have 3 Gouramis, 3 platys, 3 Guppies and 9 neon tetra, Today i bought a clown loach (for the snails) and 5 lovely Melanistus Corys. I did want to get a plec, maybe a golden nugget? but have been told it will get too big for my tank. The LFS says it will be fine (well they would do wouldnt they? ) Just wondered what you experts think as I am still a newbie only having had my tank since January. Is there a smaller plec that would be better? My tank is 180 litres (100cm in length)

180 litres = 47 gallons right?

I can't help you with plecos but I think you need a minimum of a 75 gal tank for clown loaches and i think they like to be in groups to thrive. Just from what I have read.

Thats what i thought, but the place i went to today said they are very slow growing and only grow to be large in the wild. The lady who owns the place has them in her tank. She also said they are ok on their own but again I wasnt sure myself but being new to all this I took her advice. Porky pies been told to me perhaps? Oh well Ive got it now. is there any hope of me having a plec???

The Clown Loaches are quite slow growing, that's for sure.

As to plecos, there are SO many choices. The question is more "what do you like". Gold nuggets are also quite slow growing, but not the easiest to care for, so perhaps some of the other species would be a better starting point.

There are plenty of species in Peckoltia, Panaque and Hypancistrus to choose from.

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Mats