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Hi---I'm new here and am wondering what to do about Polkie (he's polka dotted). He has grown from about 1 inch or so to about 5 inches. He increasingly hides--he was getting scraped up under a little temple structure I had so I removed it an now he's inside a rock with a large opening. He hardly ever comes out anymore? I think I saw him once at night when I flicked the lights on? I have him in a 46 gallon bowfront. There are about 8 flying foxes, 7 small green corys, 3 clown loaches (the longest about 3 inches) a bristle nose cat about 4 inches long, and 3 golden dojo loaches. I am keeping one fish for my son--it constantly swims at top and looks like a fat silver minnow with a pointed snout and a big smile---he is very fast and about 3 inches long. I think he ate one of the guppies so I removed them. I also have a pleco about 4 inches long or so and am wondering if he and Polkie don't get along? I know he used to camp out near Polkie's hiding place all the time? I have a 60 gallon that contains one tiger oscar and a huge pleco----could I move the small pleco there? there are plenty of hiding spots. I originally bought Polkie for that tank but he was too small???? Any ideas for me? Thanks a lot

Continuing from your other post...

Most synos are quite shy of the light so hiding is normal. A syno & a plec generally won't be a problem. How big is your tank - length & depth (not height)?

The plecos you have are not huge by their standards - if they are commons they'll get much bigger & are poor choices for the home aquarium due to the sizes they get to.

Hello materbona, if you can post pics of your animals you might get more responses. Not sure what species you are referring to? Also didn't see your 'other post'?

As far as seeing your syno, you could add some large pieces of driftwood and stones to increase the number and size of hiding and dark spots. Right now it sounds like your just providing that dark spot inside the rock for the syno.

Also your tank is what I would call bottom heavy. With all the loaches, plecos and the syno. This can create a lot of stress. Hope they're all getting along.