anyone doing it?? im afraid too add some nice plecos with my polys for fear of them taking a liking to their slime coats. im really wanting a nice 5in royal that i could get for cheap, but still hesitant. so whos doing it??
Plecos with bichirs
- Thread starter messiner
- Start date
I have a common pleco in with my bichirs and so far they stay apart from one another but I keep a close eye. Once they get a taste for the slime coat on the bichir they will always come back for more. So I guess it can be done with close observation.
Personaly, I have not had a problem. I have had a common pleco in my tank for 6 years, since I have added 3 bichers with no problems, however I have read the many cautionary threads and daily monitor the condition of my bichers....first sign of trouble and the pleco would be out..
Be careful...and good luck with your decision.
Be careful...and good luck with your decision.
I have to respectfully disagree with Kuda on the statement:
I haven't personally kept 'pleco' types of cats with my bichirs but I have known people who have had problems with the slime-coat sucking. Interestingly enough...I just yesterday noticed damage to a Batik Loach in my daughter's tank that could only have been caused by the small 'pleco' that was recently added to the aquarium. I have personally watched a Synodontis catfish constantly harassing various Ctenopoma species (Bush Fish) in an apparent attempt to latch onto the side of their body. The Ctenopoma were not pleased with the situation but the Synodontis was relentless and followed the Bush Fish everywhere it went. I finally removed the catfish before any problems could occur. I should imagine that a 'pleco' catfish would be every bit as relentless and an aquarium only offers so many places for one fish to escape from another.
-Joe
I haven't personally kept 'pleco' types of cats with my bichirs but I have known people who have had problems with the slime-coat sucking. Interestingly enough...I just yesterday noticed damage to a Batik Loach in my daughter's tank that could only have been caused by the small 'pleco' that was recently added to the aquarium. I have personally watched a Synodontis catfish constantly harassing various Ctenopoma species (Bush Fish) in an apparent attempt to latch onto the side of their body. The Ctenopoma were not pleased with the situation but the Synodontis was relentless and followed the Bush Fish everywhere it went. I finally removed the catfish before any problems could occur. I should imagine that a 'pleco' catfish would be every bit as relentless and an aquarium only offers so many places for one fish to escape from another.
-Joe
The story is one started keeping pleco for algae cleaning, the pleco really did a great job. As the pleco grew big, the algae in a tank was no longer enough for its appetite. One day by chances, it discovered there's easy meal out there on bichirs' body. Once it tasted it, just like drug, it could not help to chase around for it. The pleco was sent away. That's my pleco's story. As for a pleco never touch the bichirs for 6 yrs, that is a really nice pleco. I think feeding it well might be the key.
plecos are small aren't they??? so putting them with bichirs will only turn them to bichir dinner... or do you have a large sized one. One who's big enough not to fit in the mouth of bichirs...