Designing tank around Para Pleco's

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sillypony

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Sep 25, 2007
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-hopefully- this is what i shall be getting once the 55 gall is established (baby ones of course). I plan to get some tetras/barbs or other shoaling fish to start with, b/c I read (on planet catfish) that the para's are most comfortable among small-medium shoaling fish (encouraging day time activity). The article (http://www.planetcatfish.com/cotm/cotm.php?article_id=159) also mentions corydoras, brochis and cyprinids.

SOOO, now that I know what my goal is for tank (at least for the first couple years till the para's get too big. I plan to get a pair in hopes that they grow up as buds) I want to get the best possible fish for everyone to be happy, and I'm looking for any advice on what to put in there.

Some ideas I had:

Loaches (although not many, they get v. big and i dont want them to beat up or compete too heavily with the para's)

some other cat's. Algae eating ones (perhaps oto's or corydoras?) would be great cuz i love algae eaters, theyre adorable. Would up-side down cats be ok with para's do you think?


One problem, my water is rather basic (in the 7.2-7.5 range, I'm getting it tested at my lfs tomorrow). And all the shoaling fishes seem to want acidic water. Is there a good small/medium shoaling fish i could start the tank with (thus not too expensive either)? I don't plan to get much for upper to middle depth beyond a couple speces of shoaling fish b/c i dont want anything big that will pick on the para plecos.


Any other advice from anyone who has kept para plecos (L75 and L124 and L301 are whats listed on the article) would be great! Does anyone know the specific differences between the three L#'s (if i have a choice)?


Thanks so much!

LeeAnna
 
I highly doubt any of the fish you mentioned would pick on the para plec. If you want loaches, Clown, Skunks, Kuhlis IMO are best. In groups of course.

If your having plants, a SAE or oto is great. 7.2 for a pH is low enough for the plecs, but any lower is better. Something like 6.6-6.8.
Use driftwood as a buffer to keep your pH down. Or put peat in the filter.
 
Thanks! I actually just got some drift wood last night (b/c i liked it) and then read it helps the ph. So i might get another piece if that one doesnt entirely do the trick.

I'm glad to hear you think the loaches will do Ok.

Hopefully my levels and what not are OK today, and I can bring home some fish!

LeeAnna
 
My para pleco is great, such a beautiful and peaceful active little pleco :thumbsup: .

My main advice with keeping para pleco's is that they like to have a choice of caves to spend their time in, and they seem to prefer a fine soft sand substrate over gravel.
They don't bother plants, so you can opt for as much planting as you like as long as you leave a decent amount of space for the pleco/s to swim about in.


As far as loaches are concerned, my para pleco is absolutely fine with the khuli loaches in his tank and yoyo loaches (although they are still juvenile ones). He also gets along fine with corys, oto's and clown plecos, and the resident sailfin and him seem to get along fine too :) .
 
Are any other loaches not OK? (read the skunk loach stuff and I see it's rather aggressive.)

Thanks so much for the input

LeeAnna
 
thanks! I just have to figure out exactly what fish that refers too. Hopefully the guys at the LFS guide me more than they did my mom.... (she's got probly double or more more fish than she should have, and most of them aren't going to get along when they get older.)

Perhaps I'll just avoid loaches in general. I like them, but i can always get them later in a different tank.

Also, I've been reading on the upside down cats, and it sounds like 2 species are ok (smaller peaceful shoalers) and a third, bigger one is not??? Is there a way to tell for sure which ones my LFS has (beyond the label on the tank)

LeeAnna
 
I have a 180 gallon tank that has a para pleco...It also includes 30+ clown loaches, several yo-yo loaches, angels, discus, and some others. I have never had any problems with making sure that the para gets food. Once the lights go out he's front and center looking for anything to fall near him.
 
I'm glad to hear that he's an eager eater, but I'm actually more concerned about drawing him out of his 'shell' than just getting him to eat.

From what I've read, the para's will become more relaxed and active during the day with small-medium peaceful shoaling fish which put him at ease... and thus all of my questions about fishes so I can get ones along those lines in hopes of seeing the plec during the day at least once in a while
 
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