MousePotato

As of last night, my rhino pleco has suddenly become a big bully! Every night, after the lights go out, I drop a few algae wafers in the tank for my three plecos. Well, now he doesn't want to share! There is plenty for all, but he chases the other two away even when he's already eating one. I break the wafers in half and try to scatter them around, but he guards the whole area. Tonight I tried to drop a few way on the other side of the aquarium so the smaller ones have a chance, but they are used to me feeding in the same spot, so they just hovered around the big guy, begging for crumbs. Meanwhile, the cichlids had a little feast in the dark.

I hope they figure out my new distribution scheme soon!

COBettaCouple

Has he started to think that he's a cichlid?

MousePotato

Possibly. He's running with a rough crowd.

I just wanted to take him out and smack his little fanny (if I could find it)! My royal pleco is only about 4-5 inches long and he barely got a few scrapes on a wafer before the big armored guy ran him off. The other big guy found a wafer on the other side, but the whole situation brought out the "mom" in me. No TV tonight for that tank!

When I bought this tank I expected to see a lot of aggression from the cichlids. I never dreamed the plecos would be the problem!

COBettaCouple

Yea.. hate to see them fight but they're pretty smart fish and will learn the new spot.

MousePotato

I'm sure they will. It was just so weird to see him bullying the others for the first time. They were so peaceful for the first two months. I think I finally have a name for my bully. I shall call him "Panzer."

Barbrella

This is normal behavior. Plecos do not share food, especially with other plecos. I had to remove my smaller pleco from the tank due to the fact the larger would not allow it to eat, even though there was plenty of food at opposite ends of the tank. It's just their nature.

You may need to also remove the smaller one.

Feed your cichlids during the daytime, and the pleco after lights are out.

MousePotato

I tried to explain to the cichlids that they only get the food I give them during daylight hours, but I think they may be slow learners.

MousePotato

Update: For the past two nights I have continued to drop a few pieces of algae wafer at one end of the tank and a few at the other and harmony has been restored... For now...

COBettaCouple

Good news there.