Best Plecos for Planted Tank

[StraightAddicted]

Looking to find out what the best Plecos to have in a Planted Tank. I know plecos love veggies in their diet but I dont want to have eaten leaves. Let me know the best results that someone similar has had with theirs.

[bigamefish]

I think a carnivorus pleco would be best! The only pleco that leaves my plants alone is my

Leporacanthicus triactis

he is a very beautiful fish when visible! But careful when handling they have wicked teeth and powerful jaws ! But ya I think a carnivorous pleco would be a good choice! But I'm sure that you will get many other good suggestions ! Good luck!

[Zeno]

I think a carnivorus pleco would be best! The only pleco that leaves my plants alone is my

Leporacanthicus triactis

he is a very beautiful fish when visible! But careful when handling they have wicked teeth and powerful jaws ! But ya I think a carnivorous pleco would be a good choice! But I'm sure that you will get many other good suggestions ! Good luck!

I agree, fish of the Hypancistrus family for example will not eat your plants.

Greetz, Zeno

[Shane]

http://www.planetcatfish.com/shanesworl ... cle_id=287

-Shane

[MatsP]

I think a carnivorus pleco would be best! The only pleco that leaves my plants alone is my

Leporacanthicus triactis

he is a very beautiful fish when visible! But careful when handling they have wicked teeth and powerful jaws ! But ya I think a carnivorous pleco would be a good choice! But I'm sure that you will get many other good suggestions ! Good luck!

Carnivorous plecos are indeed good in the sense that they don't eat plants, or even try to graze on them. However, Leporacanthicus and Pseudacanthicus tend to grow quite large, and whilst they don't eat the plants, they will happily "move them out of the way" if they feel the plants are "in the way".

There are some species of Leporacanthicus that stay small, such as

Leporacanthicus heterodon

and possibly

Leporacanthicus joselimai

.

--
Mats

[Linus_Cello]

I think a carnivorus pleco would be best! The only pleco that leaves my plants alone is my

Leporacanthicus triactis

he is a very beautiful fish when visible! But careful when handling they have wicked teeth and powerful jaws ! But ya I think a carnivorous pleco would be a good choice! But I'm sure that you will get many other good suggestions ! Good luck!

You've lucked out. My L91 loves amazon sword plants. It also digs around and disturbs other plants.
So far I've lucked out with L114 and L7 in a heavily planted tank; but they're still smallish (4-5.5" SL); I was told they get more active when they get bigger (if so, there goes the plants).

[vanillarum]

I agree with the above. My L240s move plants all around the tank, and although they don't eat them, I finally removed the plants. None of my hypancistrus (L046, L400. L450 L340) bother the plants. Good luck.

[Narwhal72]

I think it also depends on the type of plants too.

I have a 57 gallon heavily planted tank with Vallisneria, several species of Cryptocoryne, Lobelia cardinalis, Java fern,and Anubias nana. I also have 3 Ancistrus (Florida BN) and 6 Farlowella vittatus in the tank and have no problems with the plants getting eaten or disturbed at all. The biggest challenge is the large amount of pleco poop that accumulates around the plants and is difficult to siphon out.

On the other hand, I have had Ancistrus absolutely destroy Echinodorus and other plants. I think it may be the fact that the plants I keep are not found in South America and the Ancistrus may not have a taste for them.

Andy

[Linus_Cello]

My L91 used to destroy anubias in the gravel. But I rigged a protection for the latest one, which seems to be working. I posted a pic of what I did on another thread (made a cage out of an old plant pot): http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... 20#p240820

[Acanthicus]

I agree, fish of the Hypancistrus family for example will not eat your plants.

Hypancistrus is a genus, not a family. Juveniles do eat plants the first months. When they get older they change on mainly carnivorous food.

[Zeno]

Hypancistrus is a genus, not a family. Juveniles do eat plants the first months. When they get older they change on mainly carnivorous food.

I'm sure StraightAddicted understood what I've ...

About Hypans; In a normal situation with sufficient food supplies they (even juveniles) will not be interested in your plants. Of course; when I'm out of food for a long time, I will try some leaves of the big tree in my garden

[StraightAddicted]

Thankyou all for your input, I will defintly take all the advice into account when looking for the best possible match. I like what you did with the plant plastic guard to help prevent some plants from being relocated.

[Acanthicus]

Hi,

About Hypans; In a normal situation with sufficient food supplies they (even juveniles) will not be interested in your plants.

try it with a soft waterplant, for example Echinodorus, and put it in a tank full of juveniles, they will go for it. Beside me a lot of other keepers made this experience. They top eating plants when they are ~4 cm.

[fish_you25]

I think a carnivorus pleco would be best! The only pleco that leaves my plants alone is my

Leporacanthicus triactis

he is a very beautiful fish when visible! But careful when handling they have wicked teeth and powerful jaws ! But ya I think a carnivorous pleco would be a good choice! But I'm sure that you will get many other good suggestions ! Good luck!

Carnivorous plecos are indeed good in the sense that they don't eat plants, or even try to graze on them. However, Leporacanthicus and Pseudacanthicus tend to grow quite large, and whilst they don't eat the plants, they will happily "move them out of the way" if they feel the plants are "in the way".

There are some species of Leporacanthicus that stay small, such as

Leporacanthicus heterodon

and possibly

Leporacanthicus joselimai

.

--
Mats

I have no idea if I'm doing this quote thing right, but I have a few questions about these fish. It says they're good tankmates for tetras and south american cichlids which is exactly what my tank is, but they're carnivores? Will they eat my fish? Also it says they do well with smaller active catfish, but to avoid larger fish. Are a group of kubotai loaches considered small or large? Too active? Thanks. I have a 75 gallon, fairly well planted tank with wood, hidey rocks, and flowerpot caves.

[Weller]

From my experience, I would like to put the genus of Dekeyseria on the list.

[Jobro]

Peckoltia L134 won't touch plants and neither unroot them.

Same for almost all common Hypancistrus like L333, L260, L201, L66, L46...

Carnivores of the loricariid catfishes won't eat your other fish. They pray on snails, mussel, insects and are quite opportunistic on fish eggs and carrion. But they won't chase your fish

Another important aspect with plecos and plants is, that many plecos like it quite warm, while most of the plants dont like it that warm.

[F15CathyShark]

I have some of my L46 in my planted to lower my snail population. They don't do much expect hiding in dark places, eat snails and do their zebra pleco stuff.

my L128 did pull 60% my carpet plants out

[Jobro]

I have some of my L46 in my planted to lower my snail population. They don't do much expect hiding in dark places, eat snails and do their zebra pleco stuff.

If you ever see them eating a snail, please get me a snapshot. Thanks.

[Thomas1209]

One of my favorite L-numbers for planted tanks is the L010a. They stay quite small and they have a nice red color. The hypancistrus and peckoltia wouldn't be a problem too, but I would stay away from the ancistrus family and especially the panaque's. They can have a nibble at your ferns etcetera.