[zeb_nz]

what plecos do you keep? tell us about them!

 

[Lupin]

Only an ancistrus sp.:brow:

 

[girlofgod]

you should change your name to pleco man! i dont have any atm...=(

bri

 

[joeshmoe]

i had a rubber lip R.I.P but i was a fool a bought him when my tank was still matureing.

 

[zeb_nz]

I have 2 L144, trying to get hold of 3 butterfly plecos L168 and 5 L204
I have some big plans for my plecos!

 

[joeshmoe]

cool and im geting a candy stripe for my 20gal or if iget my 55

 

[zeb_nz]

A candy will be happy in a 20gal when he is fully grown, plenty of space for it to move in. They are really good at eating algae and stay small 4''!

 

[Lupin]

Zeb, shouldn't you just post the pics of those L-number plecs?:crazy: As you can see, we are not that familiar much on plecs.:smoke:

I have assigned you to post the pics of your plecs in the other section.:brow:

 

[zeb_nz]

ok ill get pics!

 

[Guest]

Plecos are great. I have seen some really beautiful ones at my lfs. I have 3 commons plain guys but they do the job.

 

[Nick]

I just have one common pleco. Later on when I know my tank is doing the best it can I will be getting other type's

 

[SimplySplendid]

I just have 1 common but I want to get a bristlenose eventually

 

[Deefish]

I too made the mistake of getting my pleco while my tank was maturing. I fed him algae pellets but I think it was a case of too little too late. I feel really bad. He was a gold nugget pleco. My first casualty. How long should you wait before introducing a pleco? I would like to get another. Deefish is Deead.

 

[Lupin]

How long should you wait before introducing a pleco?

It's best to buy a plec only after the tank has finished cycling. To be safe, wait for 2 months after tank has cycled. Plecs aren't that hardy at all. :nicefish:

 

[Deefish]

Thanks Blue. I think that I should have picked a smaller pleco as I have only a 20 gal tank now. I saw someone on the forum stated that a "candy" plec would be good for that size. I will certainly wait but perhaps you would recommend a different variety than a gold nuggett. I didn't know that they grew to 18 inches! Deefish

 

[zeb_nz]

I do not agree to that, plecos can be kept in a tank once your water quality is good, I have 3 plecos in my tank and the filter is only 1-1 1/12 months old, and my water is excellent.
So post your water parameters up here and ill tell you weather your pleco safe. For a 20 gal you have many options available, and pleco that does not get over 4'' will be happy in your tank. I could give you a few like: L002, L204, L168, L144, BN. All these fish plus many more would make a nice hope out of your 20 gal.

 

[Lupin]

Maybe so, Zeb. But personally, we do not recommend placing plecs in new tanks to be safe. Either your fish or risk.

 

[crazie.eddie]

Thanks Blue. I think that I should have picked a smaller pleco as I have only a 20 gal tank now. I saw someone on the forum stated that a "candy" plec would be good for that size. I will certainly wait but perhaps you would recommend a different variety than a gold nuggett. I didn't know that they grew to 18 inches! Deefish

It all depends, there are different types of GN (L-18, L-81, L-177). The L-81 is supposed to only get about 7.1" according to PlanetCatfish. If I remember correctly, the one with the smaller spots are sensitive to tank conditions, so they should be added in a mature tank. Don't ask me which one is which, since I have a GN and have been told it's an L-18, but looking at some of the pics on PlanetCatfish, it also could be an L-81. I've had mine for about 5 years and it's about 4" now. I bought it when it was about 3" or so.

 

[zeb_nz]

year, dont do it but I mean you could do it if you wish.

 

[crazie.eddie]

BTW, here are the links for my plecos...
(1) L-18 Gold nugget (about 4")
(1) L-333 (about 4.25")
(2) L-46 Zebra Pleco (juveniles) (top is about 2", bottom is about 1.25")

Picking up an L-183 (Starlight Brisstlenoes) and L-260 (Queen Arabesque) pleco.