What's A Good First Pleco?

I'm falling in love with Plecos, but what's a good first pleco? Minimum tank size? Feeding habits? Breeding habits?

Thanks to any advice

 

I'm falling in love with Plecos, but what's a good first pleco? Minimum tank size? Feeding habits? Breeding habits?

Thanks to any advice

Bristlenose, rubberlip and clown are the only three (I can think of off the top of my head) that can fit in the "average" aquarium. I want to say 30 gallon min for all three but 45 is better. Almost all the other plecos, the ones in most pet stores get 18" plus and need massive tanks. Those three get around the 6-8" size. Clowns have to have driftwood in their tanks to eat. My bristlenose will eat algae and shrimp wafers.
Breeding I think is a hit and a miss but kinda sounds like it's on the easier side of things. People here have managed to breed plecos by accident and I've seen lots of ads for baby plecos.

 

Bristlenose, rubberlip and clown are the only three (I can think of off the top of my head) that can fit in the "average" aquarium. I want to say 30 gallon min for all three but 45 is better. Almost all the other plecos, the ones in most pet stores get 18" plus and need massive tanks. Those three get around the 6-8" size. Clowns have to have driftwood in their tanks to eat. My bristlenose will eat algae and shrimp wafers.
Breeding I think is a hit and a miss but kinda sounds like it's on the easier side of things. People here have managed to breed plecos by accident and I've seen lots of ads for baby plecos.

Thanks, I like the look of rubber lip plecos. Sounds like a tank upgrade is in order, oh wellllllll

 

Thanks, I like the look of rubber lip plecos. Sounds like a tank upgrade is in order, oh wellllllll

What size do you have?

 

What size do you have?

26 gallon with 50cm x 5ocm floor space and 40cm high

 

26 gallon with 50cm x 5ocm floor space and 40cm high

Dang now gotta do conversions...

So about 20" x20" by 15" wow that's a weird sized tank...

That might work depending on the type of pleco, filtration, ect ect. My BN is still pretty small so I've thought about throwing him in my 20 gallon to devour the alge for a day or two but I wouldent keep him there perminantly. I personally would want a slightly bigger tank because they are high waste producers. But someone more qualified would have to give a second option on the tank size. If it was a 10 gallon I could defiantly say it's too small of a tank.

This is Harry, my little boy. He's around 2-3" long.

 

I built the tank myself so I guess it's custom made? haha

the plecos at the store are like 3cm long so I think that's an inch or a bit longer

 

Oh and I have an aquaclear 500 in there. If you look at my handle/tag thing underneath my first post it shows you what I have stocked in the tank.

 

I built the tank myself so I guess it's custom made? haha

the plecos at the store are like 3cm long so I think that's an inch or a bit longer

Ah ah. mines a bit of an oddball size too, 44" x18 deep by 20" high. Equals about 65-70 g cause I don't fill it all the way. (Stupid fish would jump out...)

If they're only an inch long you have time to grow them out but they grow FAST once they get going. I joke that the common/sailfin I got went into his pot at 2" long and a month later came out at 4". Rehomed him and got my bristlenose. But don't forget to upgrade then. people give heck to the ones saying "I'll buy a bigger tank later" because something can happen to that new tank fund.

 

Ah ah. mines a bit of an oddball size too, 44" x18 deep by 20" high. Equals about 65-70 g cause I don't fill it all the way. (Stupid fish would jump out...)

If they're only an inch long you have time to grow them out but they grow FAST once they get going. I joke that the common/sailfin I got went into his pot at 2" long and a month later came out at 4". Rehomed him and got my bristlenose. But don't forget to upgrade then. people give heck to the ones saying "I'll buy a bigger tank later" because something can happen to that new tank fund.

I'm planning on buying a 6 foot long tank that's 40cm high and wide in two weeks for $150 with stand and gravel so I'll definitely be able to give him a bigger tank soon

 

I'm planning on buying a 6 foot long tank that's 40cm high and wide in two weeks for $150 with stand and gravel so I'll definitely be able to give him a bigger tank soon

Ooh big tank. you could easily fit of pair of BN in there but I don't know the magic of getting them to pair or how that works. I don't know if it's like guppies where biggest baddest boy gets to breed or if it's like cichlids where they chose a mate for dang near life.

 

I love the bristle nose pleco. They need a 29 gallon and get to 5inches or so

Mine took about 6months to reach 3inches, in my 29 gallon and seems well fitted to the tank.

I have upgraded to a 38gallon now and he's settled in nicely with room to grow out.

these are from when I got him

 

I love the bristle nose pleco. They need a 29 gallon and get to 5inches or so

Mine took about 6months to reach 3inches, in my 29 gallon and seems well fitted to the tank.

I have upgraded to a 38gallon now and he's settled in nicely with room to grow out. View attachment 330172View attachment 330173these are from when I got him

Aw he's so cute. He or she?

 

I recommend the clown pleco. They stay small and are good in your general tropical temperatures. They will need driftwood to rasp on, as well as some veggies. You'd probably be okay with one in a 25 gallon depending on the stocking.

I've got to admit, I'm a bit smitten with plecos now. I have one in my pond (he was IDed as a gold spotted pleco; he'll definitely be way too big for most indoor tanks) and while he pretty much does nothing, he's so cute and derpy. I used to not really like them, but I'm honestly considering looking into getting a small species for one of my indoor tanks now. They're like bettas! They're addictive!

I mean, how could you not love that face?

 

I recommend the clown pleco. They stay small and are good in your general tropical temperatures. They will need driftwood to rasp on, as well as some veggies. You'd probably be okay with one in a 25 gallon depending on the stocking.

I've got to admit, I'm a bit smitten with plecos now. I have one in my pond (he was IDed as a gold spotted pleco; he'll definitely be way too big for most indoor tanks) and while he pretty much does nothing, he's so cute and derpy. I used to not really like them, but I'm honestly considering looking into getting a small species for one of my indoor tanks now. They're like bettas! They're addictive!

I mean, how could you not love that face?View attachment 330175

So true. I've always loved the 'ugly' ones. Plecos defiantly make the list.

 

Aw he's so cute. He or she?

He. His bristles just grew in, and he has the cutest stubbly beard lol!

Unfortunately I can't get a pic because it's nearly midnight and I already called lights out in my tanks....I'll try tomorrow

 

I finally got a chance to photograph my boy lol. He spends a Lot of time jumping from one driftwood to another so it can be hard to catch him

 

I finally got a chance to photograph my boy lol. He spends a Lot of time jumping from one driftwood to another so it can be hard to catch him

 

I finally got a chance to photograph my boy lol. He spends a Lot of time jumping from one driftwood to another so it can be hard to catch him View attachment 330755View attachment 330756

Nice! I see the whiskers

 

Be advise that plecos do poop a lot and can start ammonia problems if you don't have the right filtration systems.

You could go with a BN pleco but the rest of your stock will be small.

 

So true. I've always loved the 'ugly' ones. Plecos defiantly make the list.

My kids actually named my first pleco "Mr Ugly " lol
Unfortunately The water temperature changed drastically in the fall and I lost him, so now I have HoudinI (named for his disappearing act, where he used to get into the impeller housing of my filter, and then swim out unharmed when I took the unit apart. I actually had to stop using that filter because of him lol)