Hi there
I hope someone here can help.
I have a small Ansistrus, about 2 inches long, and I want to add a Gold Nugget Plec into the tank.
Some people say that these two will be fine together as they are both peaceful with other species, but I have also heard stories of them not getting on.
Any advice would be grately appreciated.
Thanks guys
Cat Lover
Tank Clashes
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Barbie
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MatsP
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The ancistrus will slowly grow to about 5 inches in length (if it's one of the common Ancistrus species, there are some that grow a bit bigger than that), and the gold nugget will grow a bit bigger, between 7 and 14 inches depending on which variety (there are three varieties, that are quite difficult to tell apart [not counting mislabled other species], so unless you have expert advice on exactly which variety it is, I'd count on it growing to at least 8-10").
They don't grow explosively, so you'll possibly have time to get a bigger tank before they've busted your current one, but it's worth bearing in mind the final adult size of any fish when buying them, because there's nothing sadder than having to get rid of a fish that you've cared for during several years, just because you can no longer house it.
As to getting along, if you have a big enough tank for the Ancistrus + Gold Nugget, with pleny of hidy-holes all over the place, so that they can have some "space to themselves".
Also, unless you've sexed your Ancistrus, I'd count on them being male until further signs, which means that they may come to want a "pad of their own" each.
All this should be considered, and combined with the information on what the requirements are for your other inhabitants in the tank, so that all are compatible.
Oh, and the Ancistrus want slightly lower temperature than the Gold Nuggets, the upper limit for Ancistrus is 24'C, and that's where the Gold Nugget's temperature starts at 25'C. But I'm sure that a compromise of 25'C will be fine for those two. Other fish that you have in the tank will also have to be compromised into something suitable.
But on their own, I'd say that a gold nugget would be a nice compliment to "common bristlenose" or similar Ancistrus.
You'll need to make sure that Gold Nugget gets a bit of protein, more so than the Ancistrus. The GN's are much less vegetarian than the Ancistrus, according to the Cat-eLog pages.
However, Common Bristlenoses are pretty adapted to being housed in tanks, so they probably cope better with too high a temperature than the Gold Nugget would like low temps.
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Mats
They don't grow explosively, so you'll possibly have time to get a bigger tank before they've busted your current one, but it's worth bearing in mind the final adult size of any fish when buying them, because there's nothing sadder than having to get rid of a fish that you've cared for during several years, just because you can no longer house it.
As to getting along, if you have a big enough tank for the Ancistrus + Gold Nugget, with pleny of hidy-holes all over the place, so that they can have some "space to themselves".
Also, unless you've sexed your Ancistrus, I'd count on them being male until further signs, which means that they may come to want a "pad of their own" each.
All this should be considered, and combined with the information on what the requirements are for your other inhabitants in the tank, so that all are compatible.
Oh, and the Ancistrus want slightly lower temperature than the Gold Nuggets, the upper limit for Ancistrus is 24'C, and that's where the Gold Nugget's temperature starts at 25'C. But I'm sure that a compromise of 25'C will be fine for those two. Other fish that you have in the tank will also have to be compromised into something suitable.
But on their own, I'd say that a gold nugget would be a nice compliment to "common bristlenose" or similar Ancistrus.
You'll need to make sure that Gold Nugget gets a bit of protein, more so than the Ancistrus. The GN's are much less vegetarian than the Ancistrus, according to the Cat-eLog pages.
However, Common Bristlenoses are pretty adapted to being housed in tanks, so they probably cope better with too high a temperature than the Gold Nugget would like low temps.
--
Mats