I've got a 75G tank, 1 super red severum, 2 red head tapajos, and 2 meeki. Everyone for the most part has been fine. Bickering here and there as expected. Last night I saw my larger Meeki attack two of my plecos. Is this normal? They are both males from what I've been told. There is no selected spawning site or anything like that. I'm just not willing to have a $5 fish damage my $65+ plecos. None of the other fish have shown aggression towards them aside from my Geophagus when they were spawning.
Meeki Aggression Towards Plecos
- Thread starter TheNewSeverum
- Start date
My view is I draw the line when my favorite fish is being attacked, so in your case, if it were me, the attacker would be heading back to the store, even as a gift. Even an attacker that can't physically harm another fish, can harass it from food, and thereby cause problems.
Fish don't need to spawn to be aggressive over potential spawning sites, nor over any potential non-spawning sites. Potential spawning or mating is certainly a possible cause, but not necessarily the sole cause of what you saw. It may be no factor at all. Mine were aggressive even when they clearly had no potential mates of any kind.
It's possible it will cease on it's on accord, or not hurt the pleco, or the pleco will reply with some aggression that will settle the tank. Who knows? I think you'll have to keep a close eye out for issues.
Fish don't need to spawn to be aggressive over potential spawning sites, nor over any potential non-spawning sites. Potential spawning or mating is certainly a possible cause, but not necessarily the sole cause of what you saw. It may be no factor at all. Mine were aggressive even when they clearly had no potential mates of any kind.
It's possible it will cease on it's on accord, or not hurt the pleco, or the pleco will reply with some aggression that will settle the tank. Who knows? I think you'll have to keep a close eye out for issues.
Another couple of examples of why North and Central American cichlids should not really be housed with South Americans (cichlids or others). (I consider meeki North American, being from Mexico)
I consider Thoricthys (meeki included) to be some of the least aggressive, and most passive of the North/Central American cichlids.
But considering that plecos, and cichlids are basically natural enemies.
The Plecos prey on cichlid eggs and wrigglers in nature, so expecting them to remain copasetic in the confines of an aquarium is a bit of a stretch.
I consider Thoricthys (meeki included) to be some of the least aggressive, and most passive of the North/Central American cichlids.
But considering that plecos, and cichlids are basically natural enemies.
The Plecos prey on cichlid eggs and wrigglers in nature, so expecting them to remain copasetic in the confines of an aquarium is a bit of a stretch.
A friend of mine keeps a full grown Meeki, a peacock african and a BN pleco. No fighting, no issues.