deathtroll

i'm looking into getting a rubberlip pleco and trying to find out more about them does anyone have any first hand knowledge about them once they mature all the info I have found on them so far leaves me with more questions
I'm trying to find out how big they get. one site I look them up says 3" the next will say 5" and one said 12"
are they a newer fish to the hobby as I can't find that much on them
what are their food and water requirements

mathas

The reason for the conflicting information is the confusion caused by common names. Two sites speaking about rubberlip plecos may be talking about two distinct species.

For example, here are two members of the Chaetostoma genus that can both be called rubberlip (or rubbernose), one gets to 3.9" and the other gets to 5.1":

http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog...species_id=318
http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog...species_id=407

Both are reported to be omnivores, though at least one of those species (the first link above) requires cooler water that is highly oxygenated to thrive.

deathtroll

I guess I have to try to find out what their scientific name is for the ones I can get locally I'm starting to think they should either be sold by the L# or scientific name
these are worse than trying to id african cichlids

pinkfloydpuffer

If it's the kind pictured below that you're looking at, I can give you a little info about them. My guy is named Danno, I've had him for over a year, and he is just a hoot. Love him to death.

Attached Images

Danno.JPG (41.5 KB, 31 views)

deathtroll

that looks like them

pinkfloydpuffer

I have mine in a 20g with some bettas and cories. I hear they don't like having more of their kind in the tank with them. They are great at keeping the tank clean. I just keep a decent amount of water movement and the tank around 78 or so, and he's been doing great. He changes color to match the substrate, it's cool. And they like hiding during the day, so make sure there's places for him to hide himself in.

deathtroll

thanks I'm looking for one for my angelfish tank do they bother plants like a moss ball and would they water movement they like be to much for the angels

pinkfloydpuffer

I'm not sure about the angels, I've never kept them. But my pleco is in a fully planted tank and has never bothered any of my plants.

deathtroll

ok I guess I will give it a shot if it don't work I can put it in another tank

Smitty137

I have a rubberlip in my 26 gal community. He's pretty shy. He'll come out if he doesn't think I'm looking, but he's doing his job because I don't have any algae anymore. I haven't had a problem with him bugging any of my other fish, he's pretty indifferent.

deathtroll

I have 2 now after I got the one for the angelfish tank and saw how quick he cleaned the tank I got one for my convict tank since I have had an algae problem in that tank I just wonder how it will fare when the cons spawn if they ruff it up too much I will move it to my fry tank

any thoughts on how they will do with african mbuna