pleco

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i was just thinking the same, a phantom sounds like the best thing but i have only see one for $50. if royals grow an inch per year then i could def consider one because i plan on getting a 180.
 
I got my green phantom for $35 from Snookn21.

And my phantom was around the same from a vendor in Jersey... Can't remember who. lol.
 
I'd say gold nuggets or a phantom (blue or green) would be your best choice

All I have heard is positive about phantoms

as for the gold nugget, I've had great success with my gold nugget so far, he also eats brown algae which is a big plus, so I'm obviously gonna recomend one.
 
a lfs has a green phantom about 4-5" for $50. is that a good deal? i can prolly get em down to $40
 
Definitely.

Just check it's belly make sure it's either flat or plump. Sunken in means it's not been fed, or not eating.
 
IMO gold nuggets are easy to keep alive if you start with a healthy, fat, acclimated fish. My lfs ordered me 3, and I lost all 3 within 48 hrs. I got one from snookn21 (john) and he is as hardy as my L001. Buy from a quality vendor, if your LFS orders 1 for you, insist on seeing it eat and thoroughly examine their belly. Make sure its not sunken in. They are very hard to get back in good health once they go downhill. HTH
 
IMO gold nuggets are easy to keep alive if you start with a healthy, fat, acclimated fish. My lfs ordered me 3, and I lost all 3 within 48 hrs. I got one from snookn21 (john) and he is as hardy as my L001. Buy from a quality vendor, if your LFS orders 1 for you, insist on seeing it eat and thoroughly examine their belly. Make sure its not sunken in. They are very hard to get back in good health once they go downhill. HTH

I bought one from snookn21. It died a week later. Would not eat anything I put in the tank.. the other plecos I ordered from him are still alive and well.

I've heard they are hard to acclimate.
 
IMO gold nuggets are easy to keep alive if you start with a healthy, fat, acclimated fish. My lfs ordered me 3, and I lost all 3 within 48 hrs. I got one from snookn21 (john) and he is as hardy as my L001. Buy from a quality vendor, if your LFS orders 1 for you, insist on seeing it eat and thoroughly examine their belly. Make sure its not sunken in. They are very hard to get back in good health once they go downhill. HTH

I agree, when my LFS ordered mine, they kept it for over a week to make sure it was eating, once they established what it was eating, they sold it to me, and suggested I feed it the same food that they do, which I did, and now I have a healthy gold nugget that has expanded its diet :)
 
I have to agree with "Chromobotia" about getting a Pleco because you like to care for it as you would your other stock not because you assume it will maintain the tank for you. I have a 10" Royal and I don't expect it to eat the algae of the glass. He enjoys chewing through the bogwood (creating a huge mess in the process), eating fruits and vegetables. I treat it like I treat the rest of my stock and enjoy its unique antics.

Plecos requires lots of care because if you expect them to only eat the algae and algae pellets then it would be severely malnourished. Please refer to "ChileRelleno" post http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?42856-Pleco-Dietary-Thread&highlight=pleco for more information regarding proper nutrition for Plecos.
 
pleco's don't really require that much care.. good water, hiding spots, compatible tankmates, and a variety of foods.
 
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