Plecos and American Cichlids

[TrikkyMakk]

How well do these integrate into a tank?

Every one I put into my tank either gets killed or, at a minimum, scale sucked.

My last pleco got ripped in half (I only found the upper body). My current one is much bigger but he still gets harassed a lot.

When I put snails into my tank they get eaten eventually as well.

What's your experience?

 

[fish boy in toronto]

what size tank type of fish and do you have enough hiding places and is this pleco for algae eating or for show

 

[gomezladdams]

I have been very sucessful keeping plecos in all my tanks,no troubles.Are the plecos alot smaller than the cichlids?What fish and what size tanks?

 

[Mad About Cichlids]

To me I feel cichlids and catfishes are a match made in heaven Never ever had a problem yet.


Maybe you're just adding plecos that are too small.

 

[TrikkyMakk]

I have never had problems with plecos and cichlids before either. Other than the scale sucking. MY last one was a bit smaller and it wasn't long after having him that he lost an eye from someone.

AS far as tank and stuff, I have a 90 gallon with a gold saum, midavil and a convict (excellent dither for the other two). The convict is the only male I have.

Lately it appears that they might be leaving him alone but I can't be sure as I am gone during the day.

 

[TrikkyMakk]

what size tank type of fish and do you have enough hiding places and is this pleco for algae eating or for show

He is a common pleco and so just for algae and getting excess food (although my midavil likes going around eating things off the ground).

The tank is 90 gallon with a female midavil, female gold saum and male convict (who keeps the other two busy as their dither).

 

[snailmaster]

the only cichlid that had a problem with a pleco of mine was my flowerhorn. so id say its just the fish.

 

[terd ferguson]

He is a common pleco and so just for algae and getting excess food (although my midavil likes going around eating things off the ground).

The tank is 90 gallon with a female midavil, female gold saum and male convict (who keeps the other two busy as their dither).

A good synodontis will do everything a pleco will do except leave 8 foot long strings of poop. I recommend the Synodontis eupterus (Featherfin Catfish). They get around 8" or so and my big CA's never bother him unless he goes looking for food where there are eggs or fry.

 

[instantthc]

i've had 8 piranhas with a common pleco 2-3" bigger than the piranhas and he picked on them. i'd say get an adonis pleco but he would outgrow the tank fast. they are a pretty agressive pleco though. you could always go to petco and order a 6" pleco for like 20$. you still haven't posted size of cichla so i don't know if this will help u or not. but check your lfs they constantly have large unwanted or overgrown plecos. GL

 

[TrikkyMakk]

i've had 8 piranhas with a common pleco 2-3" bigger than the piranhas and he picked on them. i'd say get an adonis pleco but he would outgrow the tank fast. they are a pretty agressive pleco though. you could always go to petco and order a 6" pleco for like 20$. you still haven't posted size of cichla so i don't know if this will help u or not. but check your lfs they constantly have large unwanted or overgrown plecos. GL

I bought one that is about 5 to 6 inches long and so far he has just been scale sucked a bit but they seem to be leaving him alone. Thanks for the suggestion.