Looking to add a couple more plecos

[SandNukka15]

I'm considering adding a couple more plecos in ny tanks... currently I have a blue and green phantom together in a 125 and a snowball and tiger in a 75.

Since most plecos are nocturnal and usually in hiding id like suggestions for plecos that tend to be more social and be out more.

My green and blue are always out causing the tank and although there are so many gorgeous plecos out there. I dont want any species that will hide constantly.

Any suggestions for social plecos that stay under 9 inches?

 

[Fallen_Leaves16]

I highly doubt any species of "pleco" can be defined as social, but Parotocinclus species seem to be somewhat gregarious (although they only attain sizes of a couple inches at the most). Most Ancistrus species may fit the bill; I don't really recall seeing many fights from L059, L213, A. cf. cirrhosus, A. ranunculus, A. sp. "Rio Paraguay", and A. sp. Wabenmuster (although I only had a single probable male of the Rio Paraguay and the Wabenmuster, and two female L059). L260 is certainly a very outgoing species (in my very limited experience) but is somewhat territorial to other similar Hypancistrus species. L090 is an active Panaque species that doesn't get large (compared to other Panaque species) and I haven't noticed mine really fighting all that much. L024 is a large, mostly carnivorous species that seems to become more territorial as they grow, but most specimens I've kept were quite bold. Not too sure of any other species that might work at the moment, sorry. Good luck with your search! Glad to hear your L128 and L200 are doing well.

 

[SandNukka15]

I highly doubt any species of "pleco" can be defined as social, but Parotocinclus species seem to be somewhat gregarious (although they only attain sizes of a couple inches at the most). Most Ancistrus species may fit the bill; I don't really recall seeing many fights from L059, L213, A. cf. cirrhosus, A. ranunculus, A. sp. "Rio Paraguay", and A. sp. Wabenmuster (although I only had a single probable male of the Rio Paraguay and the Wabenmuster, and two female L059). L260 is certainly a very outgoing species (in my very limited experience) but is somewhat territorial to other similar Hypancistrus species. L090 is an active Panaque species that doesn't get large (compared to other Panaque species) and I haven't noticed mine really fighting all that much. L024 is a large, mostly carnivorous species that seems to become more territorial as they grow, but most specimens I've kept were quite bold. Not too sure of any other species that might work at the moment, sorry. Good luck with your search! Glad to hear your L128 and L200 are doing well.

How do you think an L264 and an L018 would do with the 2 phantoms granted there's more than enough hides in a 125 gallon

 

[Jeb77]

So I keep a number of hypancistrus, peckoltia, and panaqolus. I find that my tank raised hypancistrus SP. L450 are out quite often along with my panaqolus SP. L204 always grazing on some wood at all times of day and night

 

[phreeflow]

L14 are usually out and about

 

[Fallen_Leaves16]

How do you think an L264 and an L018 would do with the 2 phantoms granted there's more than enough hides in a 125 gallon

I would be somewhat hesitant to say there wouldn't be any problems, but I don't think the introduction of the two plecos would really be overly detrimental provided that there is sufficient filtration and cover.

 

[Fallen_Leaves16]

So I keep a number of hypancistrus, peckoltia, and panaqolus. I find that my tank raised hypancistrus SP. L450 are out quite often along with my panaqolus SP. L204 always grazing on some wood at all times of day and night

Interesting. Was the L204 tank-raised? I've had albivermis before and they were extremely skittish; I only remember being able to watch it graze when I was far away from the tank. Then again, I've never really had any non-skittish Panaqolus; maybe I've just been really unlucky?

 

[SandNukka15]

I would be somewhat hesitant to say there wouldn't be any problems, but I don't think the introduction of the two plecos would really be overly detrimental provided that there is sufficient filtration and cover.

Filtration and wc are usually not an issue.

Fx6 and ehiem 2262 on the 125 with a marineland penguin bio 350 with just filter floss which gets changed out weekly. 2 x50-75% water changes a week would be the regimen.

Its a bare bottom with the back and bottom painted black. I couldn't imagine having substrate with a decent amount of plecos... siphoning poop would be too much of a pain.

 

[Jeb77]

Interesting. Was the L204 tank-raised? I've had albivermis before and they were extremely skittish; I only remember being able to watch it graze when I was far away from the tank. Then again, I've never really had any non-skittish Panaqolus; maybe I've just been really unlucky?
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To my knowledge they were wild caught have 2 of them in A 75 lot of pleco caves rock crevices and wood