Pleco with Bichir question

[Joshuakahan]

I’ve read that plecos sometimes suck the slime coats off of bichirs, but I read it’s usually types from the pterygoplichthys family. So how would types from the Hypostomus family do with bichirs?

 

[TwoHedWlf]

I’ve read that plecos sometimes suck the slime coats off of bichirs, but I read it’s usually types from the pterygoplichthys family.

Not true in my experience over the last 20 years and 10 years or so with my Bichir. No slime sucking at all.

 

[litigator666]

hit in miss for me. sometimes they suck slime. what ive observed is, the small albino sailfin pleco about 6 inches, works well with my tank. easy for me to see them and take them out if needed. if pleco are bigger than the bichir - greater the risk of them sucking slime. too small and they end up as snacks - dump about 30 albino bristlenose in the tank, and they were hunted down one by one.

 

[Caveden]

Shown below is my bichir, hit and miss. The pleco was smaller than the bichir but sucked THe slime. However in the end the pleco got killed by my arowana.

 

[kno4te]

It’s very hit and miss. Occurs when the pleco isn’t well fed. Once it gets a taste of the slime coat then the pleco will continue to be all over the bichir.

 

[1 2many]

It’s very hit and miss. Occurs when the pleco isn’t well fed.

100% the truth

 

[Joshuakahan]

It’s very hit and miss. Occurs when the pleco isn’t well fed. Once it gets a taste of the slime coat then the pleco will continue to be all over the bichir.

I have lots of driftwood and algae in the tank, besides feeding them, do you think that’s enough to keep them away from the bichirs?

 

[tlindsey]

I have lots of driftwood and algae in the tank, besides feeding them, do you think that’s enough to keep them away from the bichirs?

There's no guarantee that pleco will stay away from bichirs. There will be tell tell signs on the bichirs body like sores so if necessary the pleco can be removed. Your chances are favorable because you have algae growing in the aquarium and your going to feed the Pleco GL.

 

[Joshuakahan]

There's no guarantee that pleco will stay away from bichirs. There will be tell tell signs on the bichirs body like sores so if necessary the pleco can be removed. Your chances are favorable because you have algae growing in the aquarium and your going to feed the Pleco GL.

Ok thanks, I’m thinking about getting a couple red fin plecos from imperial, one for each of my larger tanks

 

[Joshuakahan]

Any other ideas besides redfins for plecos in the 12-20” range that are prolific algae eaters?