Need Some Input From Pleco Experts

[divemaster99]

Just got an email from my local fish club about some of the species that are going to be at the gigantic spring fish auction on Sunday and one of the fish listed was a trio of L236 (Hypancistrus sps.). I want to bid for them so much but I'm not sure whether I have room for them. I will definitely have physical space for them in my 75 but I have a 4" Gibby in it and I'm afraid he'd murder them. Now there aren't any fish in my 30 that would hurt them but I don't have much physical space for them. I could get them their own tank eventually but the biggest I could go is 15 gallons, would that be big enough for a trio with weekly 50-60% water changes? And let's say I put the trio into their own 15, if I wanted to spawn them could I temporarily raise the fry in there with them since I know plecos aren't really aggressive towards their fry at all for the most part. So what do you guys think I should do: 30 gallon with little physical room, 75 with possible aggression issues, 15 to themselves but fairly small tank, or not go for them at all?

 

[divemaster99]

Bump

 

[Linus_Cello]

Go for it; 30 g temporarily is ok. I would seriously consider getting rid of the Gibby (and moving the hyphans in to the 75g).

 

[mrtoofay]

weekly 50-60% water changes

That's what worries me. Especially newly acquired smallish plecos. A stable water parameter is more important than pristine water. Most pleco will do fine with a good amount of nitrate in the water, but not many will be ok with large changes in water temperature weekly.

I would go with the 75 and watch for aggression. Some aggression in the first few days is normal (just ask rotary04, he's had a stressfull first couple days) If it seems the new hypans are getting injured (something more than just minor scratches or split fins) then move the Gibby to the 30.

Remember, you may get aggression just among the hypans by themselves.

 

[Rotaryp04s]

It's 1 inch of fish per gallon(that don't mean go out and get a 15" Oscar and put him in the 15 gallon guys) Your trio would be fine in a 15 gallon. If they were 5" each (that the max size I suggest for the 15 gallon, same rules goes for the 30g and 75g. I would go with the 15g or 75g those would be my choice.

 

[divemaster99]

Alright, thanks for the info guys! Now this is an auction so I might not even be able to go high enough to win them but assuming I win them. I'll put them in my 75 and see how things go, if my gibby gets to aggressive I'll put them in my 30 tall. Regardless I'll try to get a 15 setup if I do win them with the 75 or 30 as temps but I don't want to set up a 15 gallon specifically for breeding these guys then not wind up winning them and have an empty tank if have to remodel and redo for another fish.