New Tankmate for Mbuna Tank

[sutherland]

I would love to add a Bristlenose Pleco to my Mbuna tank. Currently I have some Labidochromis, Acei, Kenyi, and Johanni with a Synodontis within the tank right now and they all get along great! Oddly, the Lab is bully of the bunch....

The synodontis does a great job of picking off a lot of the remains, but I would like to have another bottom dweller to remove the algae along the back wall.

Now...here is where it gets a little interesting. I have a 5 gallon Eclipse tank at work that is currently cycling and is about to get "seeded" with an established biowheel from a Penguin that is about to get phased out as my new canister is getting established.

I am running custom filtration within the 5 gallon, some cut to size coarse foam and am using ceramic rings in place of the biowheel. Now I know, I know...a BN Pleco is suited for at least 20 gallons...but I found a place where I can get a tiny 1 inch BN.

I would like to use the work tank as a growout for the Pleco, I would hate to introduce him to the gang at such a small size. Does this sound like a good plan....

 

[Muske]

The BN will have to do double time since all the cichlids and cats will not stop growing during that time. A lot of good food and religious WCs may push the BN a little faster, but it is only 5 gals.

 

[sutherland]

The BN will have to do double time since all the cichlids and cats will not stop growing during that time. A lot of good food and religious WCs may push the BN a little faster, but it is only 5 gals.

That is my biggest concern. Good advice though and I think the best thing to do is scrap the idea.

 

[srikamaraja]

Mbuna are generally herbivorous cichlids, so if you are thinking of introducing the BN for algae control, anything the Mbuna won't eat, a pleco won't eat. I've always thought of adding plecos to Mbuna tanks as extremely redundant.

 

[sutherland]

Mbuna are generally herbivorous cichlids, so if you are thinking of introducing the BN for algae control, anything the Mbuna won't eat, a pleco won't eat. I've always thought of adding plecos to Mbuna tanks as extremely redundant.

My synodontis on the other hand...he loves catching all the NLS pellets that escape the Cichlid swarm.

 

[deathray]

Mbuna are generally herbivorous cichlids, so if you are thinking of introducing the BN for algae control, anything the Mbuna won't eat, a pleco won't eat. I've always thought of adding plecos to Mbuna tanks as extremely redundant.

Lol I thought that once too Lots of times, mbuna get too lazy and don't do a very good job at cleaning. A BN is a good idea

 

[FPiX]

Lol I thought that once too Lots of times, mbuna get too lazy and don't do a very good job at cleaning. A BN is a good idea

I second that. I feed my mbuna too well. If they look hungry, I feel guilty. Thus, I almost never see them clean the rocks.

 

[AltechLansing]

A lot of mbuna are aggressive. They often times at full size will pick at a plecos eyes. A BN only gets to about 5inches, I would go with a gibbicepspleco which can grow pretty big.

 

[mike dunagan]

The larger ones are more of a target than smaller ones. Larger eyes to attack as well.

 

[JonV]

Sutherland,

I would take a look at your sexing ratio's here. That might explain a bit why your Labido. Caeruleus is being dominant, if say the balance of your other stock is female? I noticed you didn't list the counts and size of tank too.

I have clown pleco's in my Madagascar/Victorian tank, and they mostly just lump along in there, not doing much of anything. Tank is 100 gallons, and I have a spawning pair of Pytchochromis Oligocanthus, 1 male 5 female Xistochromis Phytophagus, about 10 F1 Labido. Caeruleus, a couple 3 Spot Gourami, and my treasure found 1 male Lipochromis Sp. "Matumbai Hunter"

The 2 clown pleco's I have have been in there going on almost a year now. Not growing all that rapidly, but not being picked on much either. 100 gallon tank, 5 foot footprint.

I will say that I have had some other keepers I associate with, much longer in experience then I have been in mention that you do want to keep an eye out when it comes to BN's. If you have any worries about the eyes being targeted or the tank being too active, consider an alternative like a clown pleco or something else that stays small.