29 Gallon Tank Keeping Different Pleco Species Together

I currently have a juvenile clown pleco in my 29g planted tank. Before purchasing Ziggy, I had been interested in getting a Leopard Frog pleco, but couldn't find one. I have the opportunity to purchase one now, but I'm wondering if the two would get along. Does 29g have enough floor real estate? I also have a school of 6 panda cories in the tank. I have plenty of hiding spaces and stocking capacity based on my filtration... but I'm worried about one or both being aggressive. The clown pleco is quite shy, even though my mystery snails are the only thing bigger than him in the tank. He's not as shy as the reputation clown plecos have online though.

I was also interested in pitbull plecos as a different option, but I can't seem to find them anywhere? Seems like they have vanished from the hobby.

I'd love to hear from anyone that has experience keeping these two species in the same tank.

Thanks!

 

Hi! I’m not sure about mixing plecos as I have never done it. But I can tell you that the temp of this tank would not fit a Leopard frog pleco. Corys like water at around 75 degrees while a clown pleco is ok in this temp a leopard frog pleco likes temps of around 80-82.

 

As long as the Plecos are different varieties & have different color patterns, likely no problems.
I've made several Pleco stocking mistakes. I've lost subordinate Royal & BN Pleco males to stronger conspecific males in the past. No fun, lesson learned. Lol.

 

While it's not that hard to keep different species of Pleco together, I think your tank could be a bit small for more than 4, provided there are no other fish in the tank.
The snail and the cories together already make up the bioload of 2 plecos, so you might want to get a bigger tank.

 

Hi! I’m not sure about mixing plecos as I have never done it. But I can tell you that the temp of this tank would not fit a Leopard frog pleco. Corys like water at around 75 degrees while a clown pleco is ok in this temp a leopard frog pleco likes temps of around 80-82.

Really? I've seen a much wider range on various sites online, for instance, 75.2-82.4°F at Planet Catfish. Is that based on personal experience or can you send me the reference? I'd like to read up. I know a lot of the online sites listing temperature ranges aren't accurate, and my usual go-to Seriously Fish doesn't have an entry for Leopard Frog Plecos.

While it's not that hard to keep different species of Pleco together, I think your tank could be a bit small for more than 4, provided there are no other fish in the tank.
The snail and the cories together already make up the bioload of 2 plecos, so you might want to get a bigger tank.

I wouldn't do more than one of each. But I hear you. Definitely have a timeline for getting a larger tank but that's later rather than sooner.

 

Really? I've seen a much wider range on various sites online, for instance, 75.2-82.4°F at Planet Catfish. Is that based on personal experience or can you send me the reference? I'd like to read up. I know a lot of the online sites listing temperature ranges aren't accurate, and my usual go-to Seriously Fish doesn't have an entry for Leopard Frog Plecos.

I haven’t kept them but I was told by SanDiegoRedneck that they need that temp and he keeps them

 

I haven’t kept them but I was told by SanDiegoRedneck that they need that temp and he keeps them

I have my leopard frogs at 81 and another local guy has same for his leopards and other plecos from that region above 80.

Ps. My friend has a decent amount of plecos from that region and noticed at lower temps they get sluggish. So we have found a little over 80 is best. He ran at 77 and noticed difference from 77 to 81 in activity of leopards.

 

Ps. My friend has a decent amount of plecos from that region and noticed at lower temps they get sluggish. So we have found a little over 80 is best. He ran at 77 and noticed difference from 77 to 81 in activity of leopards.

Thanks! That's really helpful. Guess I will hold off for now until I have a tank set up with warmer temps, as I imagine the cories wouldn't like 80 long term.

 

Thanks! That's really helpful. Guess I will hold off for now until I have a tank set up with warmer temps, as I imagine the cories wouldn't like 80 long term.

Very welcome.
I breed guppies an BN and dont run heaters those tanks get as low as high 60's in winter no issues. But I have adjustable heater on my leopard frogs for sure

 

In the wild, many fish chase away similar looking and behaving fish because they if they look and act the same then they probably compete for resources. So by chasing away their competitor they have more resources to themselves. I have seen hillstream loaches do this to three-lined corys becasue they have similar patterning and stay on the bottom too. I have heard that clown plecos will chase away similar looking fish as well, though not sure because I'v never kept clown plecos.

 

Very welcome.
I breed guppies an BN and dont run heaters those tanks get as low as high 60's in winter no issues. But I have adjustable heater on my leopard frogs for sure

If you are indeed in San Diego I can see how no heater in the winter could work for the guppy tank!

 

If you are indeed in San Diego I can see how no heater in the winter could work for the guppy tank!

Yes its 61 outside and 70 inside right now. Lol.

 

In the wild, many fish chase away similar looking and behaving fish because they if they look and act the same then they probably compete for resources. So by chasing away their competitor they have more resources to themselves. I have seen hillstream loaches do this to three-lined corys becasue they have similar patterning and stay on the bottom too. I have heard that clown plecos will chase away similar looking fish as well, though not sure because I'v never kept clown plecos.

That's crazy, obviously to us humans they have very differently-shaped bodies, but I could see the pattern and bottom-dwelling nature being an issue. I guess it also doesn't help that those fish are from opposite sides of the world and have no genetic/evolutionary familiarity with each other's species. I wonder how similar the clown and leopard frog plecos would look to one another.

Yes its 61 outside and 70 inside right now. Lol.

Must be nice! Haha.

 

Must be nice! Haha.

We pay for it with rent ant mortgage. I rent a nice 2bd duplex for $1600mo. in great neighborhood and that is CHEAP. In top #10 most expensive cities to live in in the USA.

That's crazy, obviously to us humans they have very differently-shaped bodies, but I could see the pattern and bottom-dwelling nature being an issue. I guess it also doesn't help that those fish are from opposite sides of the world and have no genetic/evolutionary familiarity with each other's species. I wonder how similar the clown and leopard frog plecos would look to one another.

I know BN plecos are bullies and some friends of mine have had BN bully other plecos to death. Also some BN and plecos are territorial very young I have 3 juvinile LF green dragon BN plecos and I have to put 3 pieces of food in tank even as fry they are not fond of sharing. Now my LF lemon blue eye BN plecos will share until getting sexually mature.

 

We pay for it with rent ant mortgage. I rent a nice 2bd duplex for $1600mo. in great neighborhood and that is CHEAP. In top #10 most expensive cities to live in in the USA.

HAH! I've been working remotely in GA at my parent's house (hence the lack of flexibility to just set up ANOTHER, bigger tank) since early April (thanks COVID), but if my apartment in NYC was only $1600, I'd be ecstatic.

 

HAH! I've been working remotely in GA at my parent's house (hence the lack of flexibility to just set up ANOTHER, bigger tank) since early April (thanks COVID), but if my apartment in NYC was only $1600, I'd be ecstatic.

I didnt understand paying high rent where weather crappy. I know job there in NY but I dont get it. I'm ok with it here. Also San Fran is too extreme also. Lol

 

I didnt understand paying high rent where weather crappy. I know job there in NY but I dont get it. I'm ok with it here. Also San Fran is too extreme also. Lol

Yeah it's crazy, under normal times I feel like there's no other place like it. And I have an extremely well-paying job that's local to the city which helps with the crazy cost of living. But being in the burbs has really got me thinking about where and how I want to live long term. Hard to have a big fishroom in NYC.

 

I think if you keep up with tank maintenance it would be okay. My BN and my clown pleco were fine living together in a 29 for a little while.

 

Yeah it's crazy, under normal times I feel like there's no other place like it. And I have an extremely well-paying job that's local to the city which helps with the crazy cost of living. But being in the burbs has really got me thinking about where and how I want to live long term. Hard to have a big fishroom in NYC.

Yea I managed catering company and that industry disappeared, I'm considering moving to midwest just for fun change. Life is crazy recently

I think if you keep up with tank maintenance it would be okay. My BN and my clown pleco were fine living together in a 29 for a little while.

I agree but a 29gal with juvinile mature probably not my opinion.

 

I think if you keep up with tank maintenance it would be okay. My BN and my clown pleco were fine living together in a 29 for a little while.

That's one thing I try to keep on top of. My LFS actually advised me to do less WC's. I was at ~20% a week. Changed to every 2 weeks and haven't noticed a change in any of my levels. Guess my bacteria and plants are putting in some work!

Yea I managed catering company and that industry disappeared, I'm considering moving to midwest just for fun change. Life is crazy recently


I agree but a 29gal with juvinile mature probably not my opinion.

Indeed life is crazy. Hopefully, we're on the path to a return to some sense of normalcy. There's been positive vaccine news recetntly.

As for the plecos, I guess (temperature aside) I could always try it and see how they get along and move one if things turned problematic.

 

I currently have a juvenile clown pleco in my 29g planted tank. Before purchasing Ziggy, I had been interested in getting a Leopard Frog pleco, but couldn't find one. I have the opportunity to purchase one now, but I'm wondering if the two would get along. Does 29g have enough floor real estate? I also have a school of 6 panda cories in the tank. I have plenty of hiding spaces and stocking capacity based on my filtration... but I'm worried about one or both being aggressive. The clown pleco is quite shy, even though my mystery snails are the only thing bigger than him in the tank. He's not as shy as the reputation clown plecos have online though.

I was also interested in pitbull plecos as a different option, but I can't seem to find them anywhere? Seems like they have vanished from the hobby.

I'd love to hear from anyone that has experience keeping these two species in the same tank.

Thanks!

I know this is an old post but I just thought I would add this to help anyone that may be unsure. I have 2 leopard frog pleco a snowball BN and a spotted tail clown pleco in the same tank and there is no issues for me, yeah the males try and use the same cave sometimes and then chase each other away but apart from that no issues, they are in a 200ltr tank and the caves are altogether
Here is picture of the clown and leopard frog being fine together