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View Full Version : I just can't win with plecos


cheeto_1983
02-07-2008, 04:17 PM
The bottom dweller forum wouldn't let me post my thread there...it kept asking me to log in...so here I am posting in this one instead.

So in my 55 gallon I like to keep things clean and like to minimize waste buildup. So my roundup crew consists of a emerald cat, a clown loach, and 2 rubber lip/nose plecos.

When I first set out with this tank i vowed to have a unique pleco..no more normal traditional plecos. So I started with a golden nugget pleco named appropriately Mr. Las Vegas...anyways he was really awesome, but chewed the crap out of my plants and ruined all of my life plants. He then died, and I find out that they are one of the more difficult plecos to care for....MEH

So I go to replace him and find the rubber plecos which are cute...and I am told they don't get gigantic only about 6 inches, so I get two and I think they will be perfect. Here we are 8 months later and they don't eat algae....I mean I am certain they do, but they don't have the apetite I desire :mad:, but on the plus side they don't chew my plants.

I still have algae build up...and I know algae is to be expected. I leave my lights on 12 hours a day for my plants, but it gets unsightly, and its yummy green algae, so what do I do...I want an exotic pleco with an apetite of a normal traditional pleco.

Any ideas?

Oh yea I can't go with the snails due to the clown loach which I got specifically to take care of my snail problem since I was bringing in so many live plants at one point.

supersmirky
02-07-2008, 04:23 PM
Ottos are perfect for your problem.

bra8ndy8
02-07-2008, 04:28 PM
bristtlenose!!! they only get 6 inches and eat the heck out of alage!

supersmirky
02-07-2008, 04:29 PM
Bristlenose snack on wood too don't they?

biggin
02-07-2008, 05:49 PM
Bristlenose are great for plants and do not get too big.

Ottos are also a good route.

cheeto_1983
02-08-2008, 01:50 PM
I had never considered otto's...they look so small, but I read up on them and they apparently have voracious appetites, so I might get a couple.

xtc
02-08-2008, 02:13 PM
I can't keep otto's alive- they die too quickly. I've had better luck with Bristlenose...as long as the wife stays away from the tank.:confuzeld:

biggin
02-08-2008, 02:19 PM
I think Ottos are hit and miss. If you get them and they live they live for ever. I have lost a couple but they were all with in a day or 2 of getting them.

The rest have been going strong and are fat little guys.

supersmirky
02-08-2008, 02:37 PM
Wild. My first go at otto's, I bought 5 of them. Still have all 5 alive to this day....even getting bigger

biggin
02-08-2008, 02:40 PM
I don't know how many I have now.... 6-10....

I buy 2-3 every so often.... it is a hit and miss thing. I do not think they like going from the LFS to my water where the PH is usually around 6.4 and most of the LFS are 7+

cheeto_1983
02-09-2008, 04:45 PM
Alright got 3 ottos today....we will see how they do. The angel fish is already putting them through initiation by chasing them. He does that with every new introduction, but dies off after a few hours...

supersmirky
02-11-2008, 08:49 AM
Great...hope that works for you. Those little guys never stop working in my tank. Now I need a few more for my planted tank....got some algae issues.

lellison
02-11-2008, 12:20 PM
hope the otos work out good for you. The only problem I have ever had with them was them getting eaten by killies. They do clean well though.

sap
02-11-2008, 02:00 PM
i killed my BN in one week, maybe it was a bad fish....got a clown pleco 2 weeks ago and he is still alive and of course I have had nevr had provlems with the common brown except for the fact that he shits alot and eats all of the pellet food...

EAST_TX_RN
02-11-2008, 04:17 PM
Blake, your little BN is one fat bugger now! She keeps my 50 clean as a whistle!

biggin
02-11-2008, 05:51 PM
I liked her... the tank I had her in is doing well now and growing out 4 others... . she was the perfect size the smaller ones do not do as well.

Blake, your little BN is one fat bugger now! She keeps my 50 clean as a whistle!

AndrewH
02-12-2008, 02:44 PM
My 2 otos in the 33 are doing great. Zip around the tank at lightening speed, but every once in a while one will stop on the front glass and all you see is big ol' oto belly.

I'm definitely sticking with otos in my planted tanks from now on. The darn plecos just get too big or too lazy.

bra8ndy8
02-12-2008, 04:22 PM
will otto's live in a cichlid tank?

biggin
02-12-2008, 05:43 PM
Seem like expensive feeders....

will otto's live in a cichlid tank?

bra8ndy8
02-12-2008, 10:14 PM
lol yeah I guess so!