Chocolate Pleco (Pterygoplichthys scrophus) Owners?

[japes]

Hey guys,

If there's any Chocolate Pleco owners out there, I'm looking at picking one up for my display and am looking for some experienced information on them.

Do they eat plants? I've read that they can and sometimes uproot them.

Are they skittish or generally oblivious to other tankmates and whats going on outside the tank?

What types of Algae have you had cleaned up by these guys? Not really worried about them cleaning up Green Algae, more brush/brown type algae.

Are they aggressive towards other Plecostomus?

That is all, all answers are appreciated. Cheers guys.

 

[Mr Pleco]

My chocolate went from 5" to 12" in about a year on mussels, prawns, zukes, oranges..most Plecos aside maybe from a bristelnose are useless for algae control, for algae keep , lighting nitrates, silacates and phosphates in check it's more effective.....they where not too aggressive except when hungry....

I've never seen or heard of a pleco eating brown bush algae,,btw..

 

[WyldFya]

P. scrophus, commonly known as rhino, except by liveaquaria.com, is going to act like any other large Ptery. Don't expect much algae cleaning out of any of them. Get a mag float, and you will be much better off.