9 replies to this topic

[Crazyblade1209]

I was wondering if I could mix a common pleco with my other fish? I have him in with a sunfish, a creek chub, a suckerfish, and a fathead minnow in a 20 gallon. Im thinking about getting him his own 20 gallon and maybe put in a few fish that they have in with him at the pet store.

[loopsnj64]

a pleco? 20 gallon? even with the pleco and nothing else in it would not work in 20 gallons. grab that pleco a 55 gallon tank.

also i don't think plecos and natives would mix well due to temperature issues.

 

a sunfish would be an exception to the above, get your sunnies and that pleco a minimum 55 gallon tank

[Crazyblade1209]

a pleco? 20 gallon? even with the pleco and nothing else in it would not work in 20 gallons. grab that pleco a 55 gallon tank.

also i don't think plecos and natives would mix well due to temperature issues.

 

a sunfish would be an exception to the above, get your sunnies and that pleco a minimum 55 gallon tank

Im leaving it in the 20 for the moment as its still small, but I planned on getting a 55 after I get paid on friday. 

[Sunfish Catcher 321]

As long as the tank is in high 60s he should be ok.

[Kanus]

Go with a bristlenose or other smaller pleco species. In my native display tank I have an albino bristlenose pleco and some clown plecos, along with a couple SAE that aren't really noticeable since they almost look like a native anyway.

 

For what it's worth, the clown plecos are very very secretive and small. I almost never see them, Then again, I don't know if they ever clean the glass. After dark I see the bristlenose come out and get to work immediately.

[Sean Phillips]

I'm going to be keeping my Gibbiceps pleco with all other tankmates being native in a 180g soon so you can do it. But you need much larger than a 20 or even a 55. IME 55s are only good for a stream tank but I still prefer 33s to them. Get a 75 and that should last for a bit but eventually plan on something in the 125-180 gallon range.

[Betta132]

A common pleco will get at least a foot long, probably larger. You need a very large tank for them. 

If temp requirements are the same, a bristlenose pleco would be fine in the size tank that sunfish needs. 

[Leo1234]

I keep a clown pleco, a bulldog pleco, 3 Otocinclus, and a longfin bristlenose pleco in my 33 long. My 33 has suckers, dace, darters, a sunfish, and a killifish. I agree with Kanus about the clown pleco.

[strat guy]

Common plecos are temperature tolerant. We throw them in ponds outside during spring/summer/fall here in Chicago. As long as the temps stay above 55 you should be ok. I'm no expert on plecos but I'm sure that wouldn't fly with the more exotic species.

[gzeiger]

You guys are very ambitious. I would think a common pleco cramped in a 100 gallon. 1 foot would be a small one.