Planning on buying a BN

[Beeker]

I called my LFS, and the man said that he will check the availability of BNs. I thought that very nice of him, considering the season. If they are available, I might be able to get it on Monday or Tuesday.

I do have a couple of questions.

1. This Pleco will be going into my 75 gal. goldfish tank. The goldfish are quite large, about a foot. How big would the BN have to be to be safe in with them? I do have a 20 gal with some platies and a clown pleco. I might have to put him in there until he gets a little bigger, to keep him safe. Will a young, small BN be okay with the clown?

2. I will be going away for 2 almost 3 weeks at the end of this month. How long will it take to know it is okay to leave him alone with the other fish and a stranger taking care of the tanks while I am away? Sorry, does that sound too much like an over protective mother?

Thanks in advance.

 

[polarbear]

Nothing wrong with over protective mother. I have a BN with my goldies and they don't seem to bother each other they swim by each other and never nip. Also if worried about size I have 5 Otocinclus catfish in their as well and they are very very small and my goldies are getting bigger (not real large but better than medium) and no one thinks a catfish is a good snack. I feed my gf brine shrimp so you'd think that they might be interested in an oto but apparently not.

Get the BN they are cool fish and manageable plecos.

 

[Beeker]

Thank you. I thought of otos too, but they are so small. I don't want to chance it. Maybe I'll get otos for my 20 gal. planted tank.

Now I'm starting to get a bit excited about my BN.

 

[polarbear]

Thats good they are fun. I really like Dave and I got him to cure a brown algae issue he did the job overnight now I just like watching him around the tank. After the job he did on my algae I named him Dave after the junior hockey coach of my fav team cause with so little he sure got the job done.

My otos are a blast too they are real active and always seem to be doing something. They are all fun fish.

 

[Beeker]

I need one for algae too. I was told that the BNs and otos are the best for the job. I was thinking of getting some otos for my 20 gal, but I already have the Clown Pleco in there. What do you think?

 

[polarbear]

These were my first foray into real true algae eaters. I have snails but they suck at that job. I was concerned about mess with everyone but I just do way more tank cleanings. just got BN cause he so small and work with goldies

 

[polarbear]

I guess I trying to say there that I'm not really an expert I researched BN casue it was only one safe for my tank and I talk them up cause he is a gem. The brown algae has so few fish that eat it but Dave made it disappear right before my eyes I think the cats were kind of watching dave do the work and taking credit. Dang those joels

 

[Flash]

1. He'll be fine with a clown pleco.
2. He'll be ok on just algae for 3 weeks. It would be ideal to get zuccini maybe twice while you were gone, but if absolutely necissary, algae would be ok.

 

[polarbear]

Yeah it will work but Dave eats it like there is an endless supply so I would second the zuchini idea. I think Dave my find goldfish much tastier if he were a hungry guy running low on his favourite brand of algae.