Safe Pleco or Cat

[Taz2478]

Whats a safe one of either or both to keep with pikes? My rhino is doing ok but gets picked on by the cincta. He recovers pretty quickly but it means he hides more til the lights are out.

Looking to put one in the 55 with the Johanna and maybe a cat. Saw a sun cat today that looks nice and get about 8"+. Also saw an L4 "Pecklotia Angelicus" and L128 "Blue Phantom".

Also saw some underwater pics and read of pikes with puffers around, think I can put a Fahaka or Figure 8.

Everyone will be moved to a 75g, 95 wave or 100g by june.

 

[Peanut_Power]

Puffers are fin nippers, not exactly the best community fish. Pikes are fast enough to stay away, but they will be constantly runnin and stressed. Or they will beat the crap outa the puffer. haha. Pikes choose their tankmates..haha...if they are pickin on a fish, chances are if you don't remove it it will be killed. You want larger cats/plecos, because pikes will not hesitate to try and eat a pleco or cat if it is small enough...believe me..haha. You want a large growing cat, but not one that will grow too large. Tigrinis, Lima Shovels, Niger, and tons of other ones come to mind. RTC and TSN get to large and would make a meal outa a pike. As far as plecos, don't worry about them too much cuz they are armor plated and can take a beating. Just make sure they aren't small enough to be eaten. At least within an 1" of the pikes size.

 

[WyldFya]

Don't do a Fahaka. In my experience with these, they will not hesitate to rip to shreds any fish of any kind. Including my 22" Common plec, when the fahaka was only 5"

 

[rook45]

Puffers are fin nippers, not exactly the best community fish. Pikes are fast enough to stay away, but they will be constantly runnin and stressed. Or they will beat the crap outa the puffer. haha. Pikes choose their tankmates..haha...if they are pickin on a fish, chances are if you don't remove it it will be killed. You want larger cats/plecos, because pikes will not hesitate to try and eat a pleco or cat if it is small enough...believe me..haha. You want a large growing cat, but not one that will grow too large. Tigrinis, Lima Shovels, Niger, and tons of other ones come to mind. RTC and TSN get to large and would make a meal outa a pike. As far as plecos, don't worry about them too much cuz they are armor plated and can take a beating. Just make sure they aren't small enough to be eaten. At least within an 1" of the pikes size.

 

[Taz2478]

LMAO, yeah the Fahakas do look like some fiesty azz fish.

so how about a Sun Cat, they get big and still look nice.

basically looking for 1 scavenger and 1 algae eater with color or flare since the Johanna doesnt really have much. Oh yeah I put my extra BB in with him since the others formed a pr.

 

[Burbotman]

If your looking for a hardy cat.. Callithyis callithysis, the armoured cat is a good choice.
Max size 8", heavily armoured. Mine has done well with some pretty intimidating tankmates over the years

 

[Taz2478]

I got a sun cat, wanted something that didnt look like could go catch it

 

[Chad55]

Let us know how it goes. I should be getting a strigata soon (they are on order) and I'm gunna need an algea eater and catfish.

Chad

 

[Taz2478]

i love my rhino pleco, eats wood and algae. The sun cat still hides during lighting but will come out for mysis shrimp and swimm like crazy when the lights go off . Also just painted 1 top to give lower light on 1 side. it came out a lil and moves between structures

 

[GIjoe]

I`ve had fairly good luck with some of the pimelodus species like, ornatus, bloochii, 4-line,
pictus (large ones), & my fav maculatus. They`re all mid-sized cats that don`t get huge. And
they can also defend themselves. HTH.......Keith