pleco

[dempsey420]

i got my buddy to take my common pleco, thank god haha. was wondering what type of pleco i should get. i like the spotted hi fin but kinda wanna go a little fancier. i like green phantom, gold nugget, and royal. do any of these types eat alot of algae? id like them to keep my tank looking decent. would these work w/ sa/ca? my dempsey is the most aggressive fish and she doesnt really mess w/ anyone. i have a 4 ft 80 gal

 

[white15]

1. Does your friend know the size that pleco will become? (I hope so, because he is gonna need a monster tank)
2. Just know they all eat different types of algaes, so do some research online. But be aware that they are all pooping machines. All of those should go well with dempseys, as long as they are not breeding. All plecos will eat eggs at night.

 

[Chromobotia]

I would get a Pleco because you like the fish, not because you want it to clean you tank (my opinion).

I assume that you have a glass tank because the Royal Pleco has some serious teeth. I believe the Gold Nugget does as well. Green Phantoms are cool, they don't get as large as other Plecos maxing out around 7 inches or so.

If you want an aggressive carnivous fancy Pleco, I'd try to find a Catus Pleco (L24) or Leopard Cactus Pleco (L114).

 

[mshill90]

^^ Do you know how slowly L114s and L24's grow?

IMO, emerald, or blue phantom hands down. Perfect in between size.

I have both.. along with royals, L114's, para, white seam, whiptail, rubbernose, and a clown pleco.

 

[dempsey420]

i leaning towards the phantom or nugget. i read royals get like15 inches. thats too big for me. i read phantoms get about 7 and nuggets 8. how fast do these grow and what did u feed them?

 

[mshill90]

i leaning towards the phantom or nugget. i read royals get like15 inches. thats too big for me. i read phantoms get about 7 and nuggets 8. how fast do these grow and what did u feed them?

Royals grow about 1" a yr if you get lucky, so an upgrade wouldn't be for a looooong time for them. So you could keep them for quite a few years.

My phantom is about 5".. I bought him at 3 back in february. I feed anything and everything. Zucchini, Squash, algae wafers, massivore, shrimp pellets, tilapia..

As for gold nugget.. I have 50+ running tanks, and I can NOT keep these alive to save my life. So good luck.

 

[Chromobotia]

^^ Do you know how slowly L114s and L24's grow?QUOTE]

Is that a problem?

 

[mshill90]

^^ Do you know how slowly L114s and L24's grow?QUOTE]

Is that a problem?

Did I say it was a problem? No.

I was just asking a question. Both are slow growers just like the Royal plecos. It's hard to find an L114 over 2" now a days, and you will not be able to find L24's unless importing/exporting rules change.

What would be the point of buying a 2" pleco if you are never going to see it? L114's are most active at night, so catching a glimpse of more than just a tail isn't easy.

 

[dempsey420]

ya was just reading that gold nuggets are hard to keep. im kind of willing to give it a try depending how much i can find it for. id love a phantom but arent they about $50

 

[Chromobotia]

Did I say it was a problem? No.

I was just asking a question. Both are slow growers just like the Royal plecos. It's hard to find an L114 over 2" now a days, and you will not be able to find L24's unless importing/exporting rules change.

What would be the point of buying a 2" pleco if you are never going to see it? L114's are most active at night, so catching a glimpse of more than just a tail isn't easy.

That's a good point. I was just offering the OP two other Plecos to research in addition to the ones he was thinking of. Yes, they will be hard to find and most likely expensive.

The op's best bet for his tank will probably be a Green or Blue Phantom.