I only know they are around when I clean my tank and they scut off to avoid being seen. Pitbull Pleco. Whilst moving slowly across the floor they make a superb job of cleaning up algae within the tank.eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'fishkeepingworld_com-banner-1','ezslot_12',112,'0','0'])); It’s important to note here that while they will eat algae, their diet should not be made up of that alone. Now let’s look at the common Pleco and their specific requirements. I am very happy to read that many other fish keepers love plecostomus. At a maximum size of 5.5 to 6.3 inches, this is a very practical and manageable fish. I also, purchased dried shirmp food,to add some pritein, but suddenly it turned a completely different color (strange light tan color) and so I haven’t fed it shrimp eVer agAin; within a few hours, the condtion reverted & it was back to looking “normal” again. Zebra pleco is endemic of Brazil river Xingu, Amazon river tributary. My Koi are healthy and growing. Hi, me and my partner are about to buy a 200L aquarium tank. I know that certain plants require an extra dose of iron in the fertilizer you use, so I would assume if you were to get plants that will pull out and utilize that iron and other trace minerals you could use your own water. They have a large head with small eyes that are high up on their head. I use the water before it goes through the softener. You are in the thinkfish community creator for the Dwarf Plec / Peckoltia fish species, you can learn all about how the tool works in assessing fish tank mate compatibility at the link provided or use the tool tips provided to guide you. Social Behavior: peaceful. Hypancistrus sp. Our fish are young, just 2.5-3.5 months. Average purchase size: approximately 3″ Photo is not an actual photograph of the item you will be receiving, it is just a representation. Cichlids prefer a high ph so also no problems there. Please respond, I hate the thought of me putting harm to this little guy. Depending on what other fish you are housing with your Bristlenose, you’ll need a minimum tank size of 25 gallons, and you should ensure than the bottom of the tank, which is where they spend most of their time, is large. If you have a planted tank and discus you must keep a vibrant cleanup crew to keep things looking good. This makes them a large commitment, so make sure it’s the fish for you before you decide to get one. to login or create an account further down the page below. Tank Size The recommended tank size for clown plecos is 20 gallons at minimum. The size of the pond is more than adequate, and they are compatible with Koi. I always recommend opting for the minimum size tank for a species. But the bottom line is… a lot of pet shops and pet owners really only discuss aquariums in gallons when they should also discuss sq feet. A minI snowball pleco would be nice and wouldnt bother him. You will also notice here that they use their suckermouth and attach themselves to the glass or rocks within the aquarium. It can be kept with a wide range [Continue reading …], Everybody loves Nemo, so beginner fish keepers are often eager to have him swimming around their home aquarium. Hi Ian, I’d be tempted to buy another tank which you can raise them in or take them to your local fish store if you’re unable to raise them. A second variety of the pleco L–081 was later discovered, and is found a little further south, while a third variety L–177 is found even further south. Hello, I have two tanks I run with well water. I have 23 Koi’s and goldfish in a 75 Gal tank. Thanks, Robert, Hi. Hi Elizabeth, Are you sure they are common plecos? See an example tank as it would show on a user profile with enabled settings and community tanks. Mouse over to Zoom-Click to enlarge. I have three in my 100 gallon tank. Our son started it when he was a teenager, is 42 now. Hi Katie, Common Plecos require a minimum tank size of 150 gallons when they mature. The information, content and material contained on the site is intended to be of a general nature only and is not intended to constitute professional/medical advice. Each fish will bring personality [Continue reading …], When looking for fish to add to your tank, you can sometimes get lost in the amount of freshwater varieties there are, but other times you’re looking for a fish to fill a particular role. I have to bring city water from a friend’s house because we have well water which is heavy in iron. I read that it needs, at least, a 125 gallon n tank, but our is a 30 gallon tank. Free shipping over $149! So, I am facing the realization that I will need to be rehoming my beautiful fish sometime in the near future as it is about 8” now. Here may be a treatment available to remove iron and make it safe for your fish, not sure about that though. I would rather get rid of the tetras I just bought if that is the case. What is known is that it is very difficult to breed them in captivity. Is it possible that they are Bristlenose Plecos? Definitely worth testing out. I removed him, did a 25% water change after finding the ammonia was way to high, and added the special water conditioners. Needless to say they have all lived in my tank peacefully for over 10 years. Copyright © 2020 - Fishkeeping World - All Rights Reserved. They have well developed dorsal, pectoral and tail fins. I would like to get another small turtle as well. I do recommend that when dealing with larger catfish, that you have a good spacing between the top glass and the water surface, or ( as i am forced to have) keep a lightweight top glass on your tank, mainly because like most catfish Plecos, occasionally like to make a small jump or surface turn grabbing a bite of air, So they don’t get hurt, this happens mostly at night so do keep a lid on, dont want a catfish on the floor to be the first thing you see in the morning:), Hi Thore, thanks for sharing your experience. I’ll leave your comment here in case someone with experience of keeping fish in well water stumbles across it! Dwarf Plec / Peckoltia Tropical Fish Learn all about the Dwarf Plec / Peckoltia's feeding habits and food types, its behaviour, its origins, its natural habitats, is it male or female, breeding advice and information, suitable tank mates, its sizing and growth range, minimum tank size, water PH and more. Our pleco seems “Happy”, never been sick and has out-lived 5 goldfish & a Chinese Mystery Snail, amazingly! He is very active during the day and less at night. As for feeding habits, if you’ve read the typical behavior section above you will know that they are nocturnal. If not, can you recommend an algae eating fish that does? Recently, my pleco has been aggressive with my Angelfish on two occasions. I am wondering how long they live for as most literature says 15 years but mine have surpassed that and is over 20 years old? Certain varieties also feed on wood, so make sure you thoroughly research the exact species you are interested in to ensure you meet their dietary requirements.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-leader-4','ezslot_19',122,'0','0'])); As for the Common Pleco, the common misconception is that they can live purely on algae. Thank you! Generic name Hypancistrus originates from two Greek words “hypo” and “ἄγκιστρον”, which mean ‘lower’ and ‘hook’. The majority of them also have sand-colored spots or patterns. Thank you, Robert. I was trying to figure out which place he is with no luck, even found pictures of skillfish that resembles my little guy. When I bought my daughter a 10 gallon tank for Christmas one year we went and got Glofish and of course a Pleco. Like the Clown Pleco, Rubbernose Plecos are some of the most common smaller plecos available. Should we have removed them from the tank? Join 100's of other fish enthusiasts with 1000's of years experience between them caring for and keeping fish like these. When they are active you will notice that they are a bottom-dwelling fish and will move slowly across the floor of the aquarium. I hate to give him away but do not want to torture him if 5 gallon tank is too small. At a glance, I found the L471, the mini snowball pleco, that maxes out at 4". Dwarf, or Clown, Plec's are excellent peaceful algae eating fish suited to smaller aquariums and a good alternative for the common plec which will outgrow most tanks. After reading this complete Plecostomus guide you should know if the common Pleco is right for you and your aquarium.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-netboard-1','ezslot_25',127,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-netboard-1','ezslot_26',127,'0','1'])); If you’re interested in other members of the Loricariidae family, we have already published the Bristlenose Pleco guide and are currently authoring more. Create a test fish community that includes the Dwarf Plec / Peckoltia species and any other types of fish or crustacean you'd like to introduce - You can assess the best companions, tank size suitability, stocking levels based on filter type and volume and possible negative interactions and warnings as you build up your aquarium. The L471 White Spotted Dwarf Hypancistrus Pleco (Hypancistrus sp. Imperial Pleco, L046, L098, Zebra Pleco If you’re feeling a little cash rich then you can’t go far wrong with zebs. For live foods: bloodworms, earthworms, crustaceans, and larvae. This tank picture looks better than 8.92% of tank pictures in this category. All information, content, materials on this site, or obtained from a website to which the site is linked are provided to you “as is” without warranty of any kind either express or implied. One of my favorite members of a good cleanup crew is the Snowball Pleco. My other fish (also a goldfish) and my Pleco are still acting lethargic. I have 4 beautiful goldfish, 2 small guppy type fish and my 2 plecos in my tank. I bought some kind of place from pet store and have recently been told by their staff my tank is too small. Would the common plecos survive and grow in this enviroment. The most important thing is maintaining a strong water current and keeping it well filtered. I’ve kept Plecos in my 55g tank for 20 years (Slinky x9 yrs, Scribble X10+ yrs) and have always had well water. I have 2 plecos in my tank, although I originally had only 1 I inherited another from my son when my grandchildren got bored with their aquarium tank. Also we have city water and all I do is clean it once a week and feed them every 4 days I’ve gone up to a week…I have 11 babies that were a year old in November 2019 and my BIG BEAUTIFUL ones are 7 plus years old. (24” diameter). Plecostomus, or Plecos, are a group of armored catfish that belong to the Loricariidae family. He is black with light colored tiny spots. It really shocked me because they have been tank mates for several years without any issues. (10-12"). The ph in my water is a little high (7.4) but I haven’t had any problems in my community tank which has 8 guppies, one gourami and ghost shrimp. When I see his underside he is not attached by the mouth to the glass, his whole body is. Important: Please check your water type for compatibility with your fish, which can be found on the fish profile information. #snowballpleco#pleco#catfish# Snowball Pleco love eating cucumber fighting with whip tail Catfish He is up to about 8” now. Also, running your tap for a few minutes before using the water will keep the levels down of any metals present. My male is now over 6 years old and going strong. This fish will not bother most plants. Thanks, Robert. As it grows, you’ll need at least a 150 gallon tank. It never seems ravenous, but nevertheless it’s remained the same size ever since the day I brought it home. As it ages it will quickly outgrow other fish and should be kept in its own tank. Since then I’ve started researching and learning a lot about Pleco’s. I’ll make sure to take good care of him/her. Posted on February 23, 2012 by Dave While I’m in the middle of decorating the entire house I’m also going to be having a tank re-arrange. Robert: Would you please send a response to my email in case I can’t find the website again? Fish Popular Name: Snowball Pleco (L-102) Tank Size: 90 gallons. tank and I’m wondering if he will be ok in there or if I should start saving for a bigger tank lol… Also some info I read and watched in videos said they can grow a little over 1 foot or even up to 3 feet long??.. X ... “ Tank-Breed, Size… Thanks, Robert. Hypancistrus: from the Greek ὑπό (hypó), meaning ‘below, beneath, under’, and the generic name Ancistrus, in reference to the reduced dentition compared with the latter. Thank you for a wonderful informative article. I use a water conditioner when I do water changes. PROS: Moderately small adult size, eats some algae, community temperament. inspector: from the Latin inspector, meaning ‘someone or something which observes’, in reference to this species’ large eyes. They … I ended up giving the female away to not have to deal with them. As for their appearance; in the wild, they will grow to around 24 inches in length, in an aquarium this will only grow to around 15 inches.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-leader-1','ezslot_34',114,'0','0'])); Like other members of the family, they have an elongated body which covered with four rows of bone plates. In total there are more than 150 different species; ranging from small to large and peaceful to aggressive catfish.eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'fishkeepingworld_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_3',109,'0','0'])); You may have heard of the naming system (“L” or “LDA” followed by numbers) which is used to identify the various members of the Loricariidae family.