Will a M/F pair of cichlids work with a pleco?

[DOTARUINEDMYLIFE]

I have a spare empty 50 gal now, and I'd like to buy a m/f pair of cichlids soon, no idea what to get yet for a 50g. So I was wondering, do you think a royal pleco will be okay in there? Or will the pleco get destroyed/harassed when the 2 cichlids are spawning? thanks!

 

[japes]

Should be fine. Cichlids will generally ignore plecos and I don't imagine he'd be overly hassled by a breeding pair of whatever will fit in a 50 like Firemouth or Salvini. I've seen my my larger Bristlenose with minor rips in her fins after fish have spawned but I wouldn't say it's anything to be overly concerned about, she probably deserved it

 

[CTU2fan]

Depends what you pick. I have convicts and they beat the crap out of my common pleco. That's unusual though.

 

[FSM]

For a 50 gallon, I would definitely do salvini. They don't get too large, usually around 6-7 inches, and they have awesome colors.

 

[DarthV]

Depends on the fish. I have a friend that breeds bristlenose like rats, so he brings some over for me occasionally. The only tank that has a known survivor is the one with ~5" red tiger pair...and they hunt it every once in a while. There used to be one in with the festae & haitiensis tanks, but they got taken out.

 

[twhittle]

If you want to raise fry the pleco may eat the eggs at night.

 

[Wajrhall]

Depends on the cichlid, but a breeding pair probably won't tolerate anything in a 50 gal.

 

[gizmo1417]

This is true. My breeding pair of male and female dovii do not put up with anything on their side of the tank and more than often nip and my pleco...he's got some pretty nasty tears on his fins