Some Pleco questions before buyng them

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Venatosaur

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Feb 26, 2006
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Hello Everyone!
I was asking myself these 2 questions because I`m doing some research before buyng a Pleco for my aquarium. It would be really helpful if you answer them. Thanks.
1- Which is the smallest Pleco species?
2- What else can the Plecos eat besides algae in the aquarium?
 
I don't know what the smallest pleco is but as far as food goes they'll pretty much eat any thing. They'll eat zuccini, cuecumber, flakes, pellets, shrimp, blood and blackworms, ect, ect. Really there are a lot of things that you can feed plecos. Just make sure whatever type you get that you do provide a proper diet cause some need vegitable matter more and some need protien more.
 
i know rubberlip plecos dont get very big. 5-6" from what i understand and theyre available at most local fish stores. i have one that eats green algae, not brown, and whatever else is leftover from feeding other guys. i purposefully overfeed my fish to make sure things like the rubberlip and my dragon goby are getting enough to eat. (they are not as aggresive at feeding time) just make sure it wont be outcompeted for food and whatever you get should be fine.
 
Zebra plecos are the smallest i think. Theres alot of plecos that dont get over 4" some get to 6" . I think your best bet for a Tiny pleco is a zebra, but there a bit costly. busynose/bristlenoses get bout 6" I believe, look only Planetcatfish.com theres many plecos that stay small an look nice.
 
like others have said, a couple of the smaller species are the rubberlip pleco, bristlenose pleco and clown pleco. the best for algae control is the bristlenose imo. no matter what type you get, I'd feed it with as much variety as possible. mine eat any type of sinking pellet including but not limited to algae wafers, sinking brine shrimp pellets, sinking spirulina pellets, sinking shrimp pellets etc. :thumbsup:
 
Venatosaur said:
Hello Everyone!
I was asking myself these 2 questions because I`m doing some research before buyng a Pleco for my aquarium. It would be really helpful if you answer them. Thanks.
1- Which is the smallest Pleco species?
2- What else can the Plecos eat besides algae in the aquarium?
Click to expand...
maybe an L128 (under 3")
 
The rubbernose/rubberlip pleco species are pretty good. As far as bristlenose plecos, they don't stay that small. I had one that hit 10", and while yes that is small compared to most panaques that isn't by any means a small fish. As to blue phantoms L128 they get to be around 6" which is pretty small for plecos, but they aren't the best at algae control. The zebras are small, but they are expensive. Many other plecos will stay this small also, most rubber nose do. There are a few that are even smaller, but very few. Whiptail cats/ plecos come to mind, they will get to be up to, dependent on the species, less than 6". One that is slightly more common then zebras are Blue panaques L239. I have one, also had a few more, and they stay quite small, down in the same sizes as zebras. Blues are great for algae control, and are beautiful little guys.
 
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