Polys and Plecos

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NCStateFisher

Polypterus
MFK Member
Sep 27, 2010
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Before I got my polys i read several places that you shouldn't keep them with plecos because the plecos will eat off their slime coat. I've also read that the only ones that do that really are common plecos and a couple other different varieties. Do all plecos do this or just commons? What are y'alls thoughts :popcorn:
 
most plecos would do this, and most sucker mouth fishes have similar habits of sucking slimecoats.
 
My gibby doesn't do it, but I'm beginning to think that may just be because I only have one bichir, which is a very small (7.5") and active senegal, and it has 12 square feet of space to get away from it if it does try anything.
 
just was curious after i read that commons were the only ones, didnt think that was right lol, always kept mine separate just in case
 
i keep 3 bichirs with a royal, L-264, 2-L-81, clown, bn, and 14" common never a problem. i think if there fed well they stay off eating tankmates
 
brutonsbrew;4740624; said:
i keep 3 bichirs with a royal, L-264, 2-L-81, clown, bn, and 14" common never a problem. i think if there fed well they stay off eating tankmates
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Only a matter of time.
When the lights go out, it will happen eventually, and once they get a taste of slime coat, they never stop until dead Bichirs.
 
It seems as though people advise against keeping plecos with fish because plecos suck off the slime coat....Yet most every aquarium has plecos in them. I will agree it's a risk and varies from fish to fish, but I believe more often than not, you'll be safe with a pleco.
 
creepyoldguy;4740798; said:
It seems as though people advise against keeping plecos with fish because plecos suck off the slime coat....Yet most every aquarium has plecos in them. I will agree it's a risk and varies from fish to fish, but I believe more often than not, you'll be safe with a pleco.
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Plecos are fish... and people only advise against keeping them with bichirs and other ganoid scaled fish. Fish with cycloid scales are almost always left alone. But I disagree with you about plecos being safe with bichirs. It seems that in 9/10 cases, the pleco and bichir(s) end up having to be separated.
 
10 small bristlenose plecos with 10 baby Bichirs i presume?

Once the Bichirs get bigger they will very likely attempt to eat the BN plecos, and that could very likely kill the Bichirs.

Not a good mix...
 
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