PlanetCatfish.com

Hi all. I`m new here and not yet introduced myself, but will do as soon as I get a spare hour or so.

I am looking to buy several plecos ( I have 8 tanks for now), but I don`t want the normal common plec as I have 1 which I bought 3 months ago at 3inch long, he is now 7inch long and growing. I need advice on which to look for. I want different sorts, which will not either grow too big, or alternatively, grow too fast. I have this habit of buying small fish, then they grow and double in size within 2 weeks.
All my tanks are 12inch widex18inch deep. I have 3 at 48inch, 2 at 36inch, 2 at 24inch and 1 which is 48inch, but sectioned into 4 parts, in length.
I did have a nice load of baby bristlenose plecs which I bred myself, but a nasty accident with the water, Something called Chloromine which I had never heard of, wiped out them and another 20 different fish. Destroyed a complete tank. I was heartbroken.
Well, anyway, Got that sorted, got different conditioner to sort the chloromine, Now all I need to do is get the plecos.

Which ones do you recomend?

I will be most grateful for any advice.

I'm very fond of pekoltias, eg L002 Tiger Pekoltia or L205. They are attractive, active day and night and max out at about 4-5 inches. I love the way they hop about all exitedly whenever I drop an algae wafer or two into the tank.

Panaques are also great fun. L204 Flash Panaque is one of my favourites. I've got four of them in one of my tanks and one in another. They are also active day and night, but less responsive to food. L104 Clown Panaque is also nice and stays small.

Hypancistrus zebra has to be one of the most striking small pleco. Mine arrive on Tuesday ;)

There are, of course, many many more. If you find a picture of something you like in the Cat-eLog try clicking on the "show other pics of this genus" link and you should be overwhelmed by the variety. Happy hunting.

it entirely depends on WHY you want to keep Pleco's.

Just for the sake of keeping pretty Pleco's, and adapting the waterparameters to their needs? just follow up to Johnny Oscars' advice.

But if you want them as "cleaners"; for all kinds of tanks (especially Rift! Malawi/Tanganyika/Victoria), I suggest captive-bred Bristlenose species, such as Ancistrus cf temminki (or something similar; they're next to impossible to determinate, until proven otherwise I stick to "temminki-look-a-likes"), or L144.

In tanks with West African fish, Congo basin fish, or Asian fish, you can keep almost any Plec, since that water usually comes pretty close to South American water (exept brackish)

Thanks for that guys. It`s made my job a lot easier. Looked through the cat-elog at them, and you have made some excellent recommendations. Now I`ve just got to find the fish. Thanks...Jo