pleco for an oscar tank

Cow · Post by **Cow** » 06 Jul 2004, 17:16

Hi everyone. First post and a question. What kind of pleco can I put in with my oscar.? Meaning which will be able to defend themselves the best, my oscar is aggressive.

sodapopdima · Post by **sodapopdima** » 06 Jul 2004, 18:24

Wow, I actually know an answer to something here, so far all I have been doing is asking questions. My friend has a 30 gallong tank with 1 very large Oscar. Must be like 9" or so.

From all the research we did and every single LFS told us to get a Pleco at least half the size of the Oscar to be safe. We got a Large Sail Fin Pleco, I would say about 8 or 9" long and about 2" thick, and so far no problems for like half a year now. Oscars will generally try to eat smaller fish an dpick at them. But any fish, including Pleco's, must be at least half their size just to be on the safe side.

pturley · Post by **pturley** » 06 Jul 2004, 18:50

sodapopdima wrote:

My friend has a 30 gallong tank with 1 very large Oscar. Must be like 9" or so.

IMHO: A 30 gallon thank isn't big enough for an Oscar much less an Oscar AND an "Oscar Safe" species of Loricariid.

Cow, what size tank do you have?

sodapopdima · Post by **sodapopdima** » 06 Jul 2004, 19:04

He has only 1 Oscar and only 1 Sailfin. Thats all he has in the 30 gallon at all. Why do you think it's not enough room? It even more than doubles the 1" per gallon general rule of thumb.

In any case, none of this helps cow, from all the info I collected, half the size of the oscar is still the opinion we tested and it held true for 6mo without any problems. And his Oscar is a true meany I tell ya.

Caol_ila · Post by **Caol_ila** » 06 Jul 2004, 19:10

Because the fish will get longer as the tank is deep if i have the right dimensions of a 30 g (ca 120 litres? 100x30x40 cm? ) and the pleco will get even bigger...

Cow · Post by **Cow** » 06 Jul 2004, 21:15

I have a 55 gallon, and I was more interested in species/behavior, which can fight back, not size.

Caol_ila · Post by **Caol_ila** » 06 Jul 2004, 21:36

I was more interested in species/behavior, which can fight back, not size.

If you insert a fish that will constantly fight your oscar youll get either 1 dead fish or both dead. This "setup" would mean constant stress for the individuals and theyd fight till one dies or both will suffer from the fights and injuries.

Cow · Post by **Cow** » 07 Jul 2004, 04:21

You are putting words in my mouth. I am not trying to make a set up where one fish fights another all the time for my amusement. Iâ??m trying to find out which species of plecos will be tough enough. My oscar was aggressive towards other oscars in the past, but it never had a pleco tank mate. If it's decides to be a bully, I want to make sure that pleco can defend itself. Once my oscar knows that hopefully it will stop, or keep distance.

sodapopdima · Post by **sodapopdima** » 07 Jul 2004, 05:03

Hey Cow it doesn't work that way. Fish don't really remember that another fish hurt it back. The best thing is to avoid a fight which would alleviate any problem at all. If you get a Pleco half the size of the oscar it would be a tsep into the right direction, no problems at all. I do not think Pleco's are fish that fight back anyway, at most they are sometimes territorial only with each other, they don't fight other fish.

Post by **Rusty** » 07 Jul 2004, 05:34

Cow wrote:You are putting words in my mouth. I am not trying to make a set up where one fish fights another all the time for my amusement. Iâ??m trying to find out which species of pl*cos will be tough enough. My oscar was aggressive towards other oscars in the past, but it never had a pl*co tank mate. If it's decides to be a bully, I want to make sure that pl*co can defend itself. Once my oscar knows that hopefully it will stop, or keep distance.

I think Caol_ila misunderstood you when you said "fight back", but his point still stands.

Any pleco you put in the tank will be abused to some extent, with no way to really retaliate. I would be wary of introducing one at any size.

sodapopdima wrote:He has only 1 Oscar and only 1 Sailfin. Thats all he has in the 30 gallon at all. Why do you think it's not enough room? It even more than doubles the 1" per gallon general rule of thumb.

That "rule" is drivel. Oscars are big, aggressive fish, and full grown they would not be able to turn around in a 30 gallon.

Rusty

Cow · Post by **Cow** » 07 Jul 2004, 06:46

Ok, on some site I saw a plec that grew spikes all over his body. I would think that it might help. Anyone knows what Iâ??m talking about?

jurassic_pork · Post by **jurassic_pork** » 07 Jul 2004, 07:28

IMHO the 30 and the 50 gallon are to small for an oscar once fully grown.

Caol_ila · Post by **Caol_ila** » 07 Jul 2004, 15:34

@cow sorry when i misunderstood you but the "intention" was at hand for me at the moment if not purposesedly then unintentional due to the point sodapop makes.

Very spiny plecos are Pseudacanthicus and Acanthicus species...but a 200 litre tank isnt very spacy for two extremely territorial 30-40 cm fish not mentioning the 1 metre Acanthicus

Cow · Post by **Cow** » 07 Jul 2004, 16:18

you are right, they are big. But it would bee cool to have the spiky one. it would definitely not be bothered by my oscar after a few tries. What are some that grow to around 10inches?

Caol_ila · Post by **Caol_ila** » 07 Jul 2004, 16:26

A problem is of course that all Cactusplecos are quite expensive (except L114 maybe which is in the 25 euro range here at 5 cm) so you wouldnt want to buy a 10 cm 100 euro L24 to find out that it gets hammered by the sicklid.
you got a picture of your tank?

Cow · Post by **Cow** » 07 Jul 2004, 17:31

sodapopdima · Post by **sodapopdima** » 07 Jul 2004, 19:34

Wow thats really nice, I like that tank and setup, I wish i could have one like that. Did you per chance get the Oscar from Petland. I see you are also from Brooklyn. I do not know where in Brooklyn you are but I can suggest a mom&pop store, not a petland or petco, and can tell you the location because they sometimes have nice huge Pleco's. Last time I was there they had a Pleco with a big red tail that was a foot or so long and about 3 or 4 inches thick all around. Very hardy huge Pleco and I know he would suit your tank well. They have lots of exotic nice Pleco's there I usually go to visit and hope to be able to one day have them all...lol

The store is called Brooklyn Zoo/Aquarium and is located on Ralph Ave and Ave N. I get there via ave U to Mill Ave, turn right, (Mill Ave becomes Ralph Ave), and its just a few blocks down. Check it out, they are also the only LFS to sell zebra plecos. If you see a zebra let me know cause thats my next purchase.

Caol_ila · Post by **Caol_ila** » 07 Jul 2004, 20:15

Hi!

With no hiding places like this the oscar would beat any pleco to death i think. Youd need some logs or multiple other caves to make the pleco feel happy. Which would cut into the oscars swimming space enormously.

Cow · Post by **Cow** » 07 Jul 2004, 22:21

sodapopdima wrote:Wow thats really nice, I like that tank and setup, I wish i could have one like that. Did you per chance get the Oscar from Petland. I see you are also from Brooklyn. I do not know where in Brooklyn you are but I can suggest a mom&pop store, not a petland or petco, and can tell you the location because they sometimes have nice huge pl*co's. Last time I was there they had a pl*co with a big red tail that was a foot or so long and about 3 or 4 inches thick all around. Very hardy huge pl*co and I know he would suit your tank well. They have lots of exotic nice pl*co's there I usually go to visit and hope to be able to one day have them all...lol

The store is called Brooklyn Zoo/Aquarium and is located on Ralph Ave and Ave N. I get there via ave U to Mill Ave, turn right, (Mill Ave becomes Ralph Ave), and its just a few blocks down. Check it out, they are also the only LFS to sell zebra pl*cos. If you see a zebra let me know cause thats my next purchase.

Thanks, I always thought my tank looked empty, but i did that for my O. I bought my oscar in Petland on Kings Highway. back then they actually had somewhat smaller oscars, 2-4 inches. Now they sell either almost fry, or 6 inch, none of which is necessarily a bed thing. I live in Flatbush. Easth 15th and Cortelyou. I saw cmercial for Brooklyn Zoo on TV many times, never went there though. But now I will definitely pay a visit. I'll tell you if they have zebras........

Caol_ila wrote:Hi!

With no hiding places like this the oscar would beat any pl*co to death i think. Youd need some logs or multiple other caves to make the pl*co feel happy. Which would cut into the oscars swimming space enormously.

Yeah, i kind of knew why you asked me for the picture. You are absolutely right. I'll hold with the whole idea anyways, because I plan on buying a canister filter first.

sodapopdima · Post by **sodapopdima** » 08 Jul 2004, 04:54

Cow wrote: Thanks, I always thought my tank looked empty, but i did that for my O. I bought my oscar in Petland on Kings Highway. back then they actually had somewhat smaller oscars, 2-4 inches. Now they sell either almost fry, or 6 inch, none of which is necessarily a bed thing. I live in Flatbush. Easth 15th and Cortelyou. I saw cmercial for Brooklyn Zoo on TV many times, never went there though. But now I will definitely pay a visit. I'll tell you if they have zebras........

I go to that Petland on Kings Highway too, this week and last week they had huge Oscars, same as you have now going for $40 a pop. I live in sheepshead bay area near bedford park, on ave X and East 23 street, so I am actually not too far from you we probably shoped at the same LFS.

Anyhow, yes, definitely check Brooklyn Zoo, they are great, I now go there for all my exotic fish buys and to petland for normal stuff. I buy all material and equipment from http://www.thatpetplace.com because you just can't beat their prices. I think sometim within the next 6mo or so I will be moving out to live on my own and I plan to look into a huge tank, seen a great deal for a 500gallon but I do not know yet what space I will have available. I also will probably post here a lot at that time because I have no idea how to filter or set up something so huge.

Well good luck and let me know about the zebra's.