Can Plecos Go In A Goldfish Tank?

[fry_forever!]

Hi. I am getting a 30-77 gallon tank in my basement soon, (probably a 55 gallon.) and I am planning to put 2 fancy goldfish and a pleco inside. But, question:

Can goldfish go with plecos? I've heard that plecos have been used in ponds, so I want to put one in the 55 gallon. I know how big they get, and I know they need veggies, and I'm willing to take care of them properly.

Also, will the tank temperature be good if it's kept in a Canadian basement? I have an extra heater, just in case it gets TOO cold. What IS too cold for a goldfish?

Thanks for all help!

 

[mixmaster jay]

Yes butterfly plecs or so they are called pets at home have them in with the cold water goldfish they are only small (i cant find them on the net though it comes up with a plec like a zebra pleco).

a gibbiceps plec can go in cold water mine is often in with the gold fish but they get large [URL="http/www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_pterigo.php"]http/www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_pterigo.php[/URL]


http/farm4.static.flickr.com/3179/261592...4f04b50.jpg?v=0 here is the little "butterfly plec"

 

[fry_forever!]

Yes butterfly plecs or so they are called pets at home have them in with the cold water goldfish they are only small (i cant find them on the net though it comes up with a plec like a zebra pleco).

a gibbiceps plec can go in cold water mine is often in with the gold fish but they get large <a href="http/www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_pterigo.php" target="_blank">http/www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_pterigo.php</a>


[URL="http/farm4.static.flickr.com/3179/261592...4f04b50.jpg?v=0"]http/farm4.static.flickr.com/3179/261592...4f04b50.jpg?v=0[/URL] here is the little "butterfly plec"

Thank you very much. Can bristlenose plecs go in coldwater?

 

[JenCliBee]

Yes butterfly plecs or so they are called pets at home have them in with the cold water goldfish they are only small (i cant find them on the net though it comes up with a plec like a zebra pleco).

a gibbiceps plec can go in cold water mine is often in with the gold fish but they get large <a href="http/www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_pterigo.php" target="_blank">http/www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_pterigo.php</a>


<a href="http/farm4.static.flickr.com/3179/261592...4f04b50.jpg?v=0" target="_blank">http/farm4.static.flickr.com/3179/261592...4f04b50.jpg?v=0</a> here is the little "butterfly plec"

Thank you very much. Can bristlenose plecs go in coldwater?

The plec jay is refering to isnt actaully a pleco but a loach (borneo sucker/hong kong plec) they required fast flowing water.

There isnt an actual cold water plec as far as im aware?, but the closest would be the flounder/butterfly pleco which can tollerate colder temps.

A gibbiceps isnt really an ideal plec for a cold water tank and no bristlenose cant be kept in coldwater tanks.

Also be careful on plec choice they have been know to suck on the side of golsfish.

jen

 

[mixmaster jay]

Bristle nose plecos are a subtropical species, meaning they do fine in a wide temurature range from 70F all the way into the high 70's.
Yes, sometimes they can suck slime coats, but that is only if they are not kept well fed.

most plecos are tropical, but there are 2 species(Bristlenose and rubber lip) that are compatible with goldfish, and subtropical species.

but i wouldn't recommend it


[URL="http/www.aquariumlife.net/profiles/pleco...leco/100049.asp"]http/www.aquariumlife.net/profiles/pleco...leco/100049.asp[/URL]

 

[mixmaster jay]

if you want plecs and goldfish together just put a heater in the tank it also makes the goldfish grow faster and abit bigger as it increases there motabolism but i dont know if this is good or bad for them i would go for more than likely a little bit bad for them

 

[fry_forever!]

Okay thanks. I will keep that in mind. From all the things I heard from you guys, now it doesn't sound like the greatest idea to have a pleco....
Are there any other kinds of fish that can go in coldwater with goldfish that can potentially clean/stay near the bottom of the tank? (Small(er) catfish,....?)

Good thing I asked the question! I was actually going to put a pleco in!

 

[aquila]

Are there any other kinds of fish that can go in coldwater with goldfish that can potentially clean/stay near the bottom of the tank? (Small(er) catfish,....?)

No fish will clean the bottom of the tank... that's your job!

Seriously, though, catfish do not 'clean' the tank - if anything, they are huge waste producers.

Any kind of sucking loach/pleco is really a bad idea with goldfish, especially fancies, as they are so bumbly and slow moving that they're an easy target to latch on to. Many years back before I knew any better I lost a black moor to a pleco attack, and came close to losing another fish before I worked out the pleco was the culprit.

Goldfish are best in a single-species tank as their needs are suprisingly specific and not compatible with most common tropical fish.

 

[fry_forever!]

Are there any other kinds of fish that can go in coldwater with goldfish that can potentially clean/stay near the bottom of the tank? (Small(er) catfish,....?)

No fish will clean the bottom of the tank... that's your job!

Seriously, though, catfish do not 'clean' the tank - if anything, they are huge waste producers.

Any kind of sucking loach/pleco is really a bad idea with goldfish, especially fancies, as they are so bumbly and slow moving that they're an easy target to latch on to. Many years back before I knew any better I lost a black moor to a pleco attack, and came close to losing another fish before I worked out the pleco was the culprit.

Goldfish are best in a single-species tank as their needs are suprisingly specific and not compatible with most common tropical fish.

Ok, thanks. Thank goodness I asked the question! Are 2 fancies a good amount in a 55 gallon? Or could I fit 3 or 4? I really don't care, I'm just wondering -- I don't want to stunt their growth...

 

[Jazzzz]

I do have a plec and goldfish in the same tank

water temp is at 23 degrees with the heater set to 22 as 23 is what the room they are in alows the water to stay at on its own.

The plec is about 3 years old now and is about 8" (comon plec)

They all get fed tropical sinking food (I have fed goldfish this for about 8 years) and floating goldfish sticks

 

[three-fingers]

I wouldn't recommend a hillstream loach (Borneo sucker/Hong Kong plec) for a goldfish tank.

Anyone who gets hillstream loaches should really research how they live in nature before considering them.

Fast flowing clean water, don't fare well at all when oxygen levels drop...which often happens in goldfish tanks.

http/www.loaches.com/articles/hillstream...n-the-fast-lane

http/www.loaches.com/species-index/beauf...a-kweichowensis

 

[crazychris]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought there were coldwater and tropical plecs. Had what my dealer called a coldwater plec in with my daughter's goldfish for years, with no heater. It's recently died but was only about 4" adult. Was told they don't get over a foot like tropical common plecs do.

 

[fry_forever!]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought there were coldwater and tropical plecs. Had what my dealer called a coldwater plec in with my daughter's goldfish for years, with no heater. It's recently died but was only about 4" adult. Was told they don't get over a foot like tropical common plecs do.

I'm honestly not sure! I've never kept plecos at all, but I find them really cool looking, and since I'm getting a fairly large tank, I thought, well, now's the time! I think I'll just get goldfish though. How many goldies can you fit in a 55 gallon?