Plecos with Crayfish?

I'm setting up my first aquarium, getting the cycle started right now on a 20 Long. My sole intention from the beginning has been to use it for a blue crayfish, with only a few danios or tetras due to the reputation crayfish have for not getting along with tank mates (I'm fine with the cray eating less expensive fish like that, but I don't want anything harming the cray). A friend of mine had a tank set up for a goldfish and also had a suckerfish (pleco?) - her goldfish died and she wants to dismantle the aquarium, but needs to get rid of the suckerfish first and asked if I would take it since I'm starting a new aquarium. I just want to make sure that there will be no problems between the two, at least none that would harm the crayfish. I'm looking at getting one of the electric blue crays for the tank, if species matters at all.

 

What I think you should do first is find out what kind of pleco it is. How big is it? If it's a common pleco, it will be way too big for a 20 long.

 

I wouldn't keep anything with the crayfish. It can and will hurt the pleco, and any fish you put in there will be in danger. Just because some fish are inexpensive doesn't mean you should risk their lives.

 

Good point, it's probably best I keep him solitary then.

 

So she's still bugging me to take the pleco, I went over and saw it in person today (only had poor photos before). The thing is absolutely massive, easily 6-8" long and 2-3" across. It's like 5-6 times bigger than my crayfish! I don't know if I'd want to risk putting him in there even if they got along fine.

 

The pleco is too big for your 20 gal anyway.

 

Sad thing is she's got it in a 10 gallon right now by itself.

 

Can you not convince your friend to give her to an LFS or to someone else with a large enough tank?

 

Dont really know anyone else, I'll recommend it though.

 

Use Craigslist or rehome to your LFS.

 

I'm setting up my first aquarium, getting the cycle started right now on a 20 Long. My sole intention from the beginning has been to use it for a blue crayfish, with only a few danios or tetras due to the reputation crayfish have for not getting along with tank mates (I'm fine with the cray eating less expensive fish like that, but I don't want anything harming the cray). A friend of mine had a tank set up for a goldfish and also had a suckerfish (pleco?) - her goldfish died and she wants to dismantle the aquarium, but needs to get rid of the suckerfish first and asked if I would take it since I'm starting a new aquarium. I just want to make sure that there will be no problems between the two, at least none that would harm the crayfish. I'm looking at getting one of the electric blue crays for the tank, if species matters at all.

I've had some experience with plecos with crayfish.....lets just say the plecos make tasty snacks for the crayfish. I'm assuming your not putting that monster pleco in your 20gal but if you wanted to put in a small species of pleco like the bushy nosed in the future they would more than likely be eaten.

My bushy noses where breeding like crazy so much so I ended up being the main supplier for my LFS. However I made the mistake of putting a crayfish in there and that was the end of the breeding plecos. Live and learn I guess...

 

I referenced her to the lfs where I got my cray and they told her they'd take the pleco off her hands, so hopefully it finds a good home