I have 1 dull eyed royal, and was wondering how many can I keep together? and if I need to worry about sizes or anything else? My current guy/girl is around 5-6" And I've had them for about 1.5 yrs now? I have a 40B that I would like to add some more too as well as the 75 with my current guy. And eventually move them all into something in the 220+ range in the long-run. How many more can I get realistically, if They will co-habitat well? My current guy scavanges for most of his food which I suppliment with sinking wafers, lots of driftwood in the tank, and all the algae that grows that he wants to eat. I was thinking 3 small ones for the 40B that they can grow-up abit in. and maybe 1 or 2 more in the 4" range to go with the current one? Or will this be to many or possible conflicts?
Royal Pleco Colony?
- Thread starter MonsterMinis
- Start date
I currently keep 9 L027 and 3 L190 (+ 35cm Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps) between 12-22cm in a 150x50x70cm 525 litre tank. I used to have another 3 L190 21-32cm and 20cm L190 with them as well.
With the right wood arrangement aggression can be kept very low, I never experience anything more than split fins. With fewer fish you run the risk of more aggression because it is less spread out. I keep a 40cm L190 individually and he very aggressive towards anything.
Aside from the fish living together, the main hurdle is being able to keep them alive. They are very large fish with massive oxygen, filtration and food demands.
I'm currently using an Eheim pro3 2180, Fluval FX5 and a pressurised pond filter served by a 6000lph solids pump. The tank gets an absolute minimum 50-66% water change per week with daily siphoning. More often than not I do 25-33% water change every day or other. Daily siphoning of detritus is key to avoid the filters from clogging and nitrogenous waste build up. The tank bare bottom and wood only for ease of cleaning.
I feed root vegetables every day, and there will always be some sort of vegetable or fruit in the tank. I usually feed flake/wafer wood every other day or so. And meaty foods like prawn every few weeks.
Since I've been measuring my fish's growth over the past year or so I've seen positive growth of at least 3cm up to 7cm.
It's difficult, but as you learn, your methods and techniques improve and it becomes easier. These are my favourite fish and it's what I have to do to keep them.
With the right wood arrangement aggression can be kept very low, I never experience anything more than split fins. With fewer fish you run the risk of more aggression because it is less spread out. I keep a 40cm L190 individually and he very aggressive towards anything.
Aside from the fish living together, the main hurdle is being able to keep them alive. They are very large fish with massive oxygen, filtration and food demands.
I'm currently using an Eheim pro3 2180, Fluval FX5 and a pressurised pond filter served by a 6000lph solids pump. The tank gets an absolute minimum 50-66% water change per week with daily siphoning. More often than not I do 25-33% water change every day or other. Daily siphoning of detritus is key to avoid the filters from clogging and nitrogenous waste build up. The tank bare bottom and wood only for ease of cleaning.
I feed root vegetables every day, and there will always be some sort of vegetable or fruit in the tank. I usually feed flake/wafer wood every other day or so. And meaty foods like prawn every few weeks.
Since I've been measuring my fish's growth over the past year or so I've seen positive growth of at least 3cm up to 7cm.
It's difficult, but as you learn, your methods and techniques improve and it becomes easier. These are my favourite fish and it's what I have to do to keep them.
I've kept groups of 20+ juvenile L191's with no problems. If you do go this route, consider upping your filtration quite a bit as these guys produce ALOT of waste.
Thanks for the input guys! atm the 75 is running a emp 400 and another is on order. I'm also tossing around the idea of adding a Rena Canister. the 40B is running 2 penguin 200's. My spiney eels require high O2 as well as very good water quaility. atm the tanks get 25-50% WC's 2x a week. So adding more driftwood ( which ime is never a bad thing unless your tanks 50% wood lol) which the eels and the plecos would enjoy. And watching for aggression. I really like my guy atm, and like the slow but steady growth hes had. He's also not a push-over as my florida gars have investigated him, which he will get "ruffled" and shoe them with his tail before they even really consider trying him. Yet at the same time I've never seen him "attack" anyone. So is it safe to assume I may have aggression issues as they get larger and eventually have to seperate 1 or more out? If so this isn't much different from dealing with my spiney eels. But adding more filtration is best to do before considering adding more, and adding more hide spots w/ driftwood.
good luck with your endeavors!
im kind of building a colony of sorts
3 babies and a 5incher in a 30T...
but yup, i think they make the most poop out of any fish ive had.
the plants outside of my place love that i have them (excellent fertilizer)
As far as aggression goes, just make sure there are lots of hidey holes to break lines of sight. I skimped on wood for a week while trying to supply wood for my baby L114 in another tank and my baby royals got fussy. slightly ripped tail on one of em...but i snagged like 8lbs of wood from LFS and theyre better now.
hows about some pics?!
im kind of building a colony of sorts
3 babies and a 5incher in a 30T...
but yup, i think they make the most poop out of any fish ive had.
the plants outside of my place love that i have them (excellent fertilizer)
As far as aggression goes, just make sure there are lots of hidey holes to break lines of sight. I skimped on wood for a week while trying to supply wood for my baby L114 in another tank and my baby royals got fussy. slightly ripped tail on one of em...but i snagged like 8lbs of wood from LFS and theyre better now.
hows about some pics?!