Does anyone here know if a gibbiceps sailfin pleco will scratch an acrylic tank? I realize they don't have the choppers of something like a panaque, but wasn't sure if they had the ability to scratch acrylic with their rasping. I'm thinking of getting one for my tank, but don't want to risk scratching the tank... If anyone has any first-hand experience, please let me know. Thanks.
Gibbiceps Plecos & Acrylic
- Thread starter The Mule
- Start date
While I don't have any 1st hand experience, I can't imagine it being an issue. From what I heard even the larger panaques have a pretty hard time scratching the acrylic tanks. I had my 14" L001 in an acrylic 150 for 6 months while I set up my AGA 200 and he was fine. No scratches at all.
I've had small ones in an acrylic and they didn't do no damage but they really small only round 2-3" not sure on bigger ones
I know someone that have two display tanks and the one with the large gibbicep (12") have 1/4" deep scratches and the other tank without the pleco do not have scratches like that. I'm not sure the scratches were caused by another fish that was in there or what. I do know these people are not fish people and do not change up fish like most fish people do. They are the type that will keep it till it dies and replace it when it does. I do believe the scratches are caused by the large gibbicep in my opinion.
I've had L083 up to 16" long in acrylic with no problems, but I over feed my plecos and even my 14" L418, L190, and L330 haven't scratched my acrylic. I do keep a 300G glass tank just in case I have to move them if they start scratching the acrylic.
There's a pic on MFK somewhere that has a very large pleco sucking on the acrylic. The pic is looking into its mouth and I believe those teeth can easily scratch the acrylic! I wish I had the pic! If you saw the pic you would understand. Of course this was a very large pleco that eats a piece of drift wood every month or so. I think Oddball has the fish???? and he may have took the pic too. Just can't find that dang picture 