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Hi, i've got a question for you guys...
What about loricariids and munching on plants (Echinodorus and such). Any particular species to keep away from if you want unharmed plants?

Panaque will decimate anything even remotely edible, including plants and sponges.

Rusty

I have a Spotted Orange Seam L106 that will just totally demolish a sword. Or to put it more acurately, all the swords in that tank!

Perhaps better to ask the question the other way around: which Loricariids won't damage plants? Generally speaking, of the Loris commonly seen in the hobby, only tiny ones like Otocinclus and meat-eating ones like Hypancistrus.

Dinyar

Hi!

Yea Hypancistrus are without a doubt a genus to go with if you don't want them to touch your plants.

Cheers
Yann

I wrote an article for Planted Aquaria magazine on this very topic entitled "Plants and Plecos" (not a very original title). I can send youy a copy if you are interested.
Basically, stay with the Hypoptopomatinae for "worker" loricariids to keep the tank free of algae. The second best subfamily are the loricariinae. Of these Sturisoma, most Rineloricaria, Sturisomatichthys, and Farlowella make good worker plecos. The meat eating and sand sifting Loricariinae (Loricarichthys, Pterosturisoma, Planiloricaria, etc) are good choices, but do not help much with algae. Any member of Hypostominae or Ancistrinae is a gamble. Most species of these two subfamiles will eat plants or, at a minimum, damage them. The other point is that the environments that these two subfamilies prefer are not at all what you are trying to maintain in a planted tank.
Bottom line, you can have a pleco tank witha few hardy plants (Java moss and Java fern, for example) or an Amano or Dutch style tank which limits you to Hypoptopomatinae and some loricariinae.
-Shane

Thank you very much for the info!!!
Shane - About the article, is it possible for you to e-mail it to me? That would be just great!

have a nice x-mas everyone!

Shane wrote:I wrote an article for Planted Aquaria magazine on this very topic

Given the publication is no longer, are you able / willing to have it published in SW?

Jools

Jools,
An even better idea. Will send it this weekend.
-Shane

I have hemiloricaria (common: RedLlizard Cats or Red Firefoxes) and a Whiptail cat, they leave my pretty much leave my plants alone. Good Luck!

Leporacanthicus also dont eat plants but the only problem is that they dig alot and may uproot plants like vallisneria and cabomba.

I just use Java Moss. I'm not that good at plants and it gives good cover, and plecs also can't get their mouths on such fine leaves!