Do I Need A Pleco

[Seal36]

I was looking into 2 different types of Cory's and I was wondering if I had Cory's would I need a pleco as I think they do the same sort of job. Also could I have both in the same tank and would they get on from Tom

 

[haleem8777]

If you need something to eat left over food on the floor i would go for the corys. 

 

[frapadoodle]

Different Plecs have different dietary needs. As well cirys need thier own food, such as high protien sinking pellets. If you need something for "leftover" food. Feed less, siphon more.

 

[The Taffy Apple]

If your tank is big enough then you can quite easily have one. They can and do get very big over time which a lot of people make the mistake of not realising...some will require certain woods in the tank to eat
They will live comfortably with Cory, providing the Cory are in a nice little group of 6 or more...these two general rules combined would say your tank needs to be around 200L and possibly more.
 
Neither fish should be bought and kept with the idea of them cleaning our tank for us or as a 'clean-up crew'...that's our job.
 
Terry.

 

[ech0o]

If your tank is big enough then you can quite easily have one. They can and do get very big over time which a lot of people make the mistake of not realising...some will require certain woods in the tank to eat
They will live comfortably with Cory, providing the Cory are in a nice little group of 6 or more...these two general rules combined would say your tank needs to be around 200L and possibly more.
 
Neither fish should be bought and kept with the idea of them cleaning our tank for us or as a 'clean-up crew'...that's our job.
 
Terry.

While I agree that you cannot rely fully on "cleanup" crews to keep the tank clean, surely you need to fill the water column so that food in all areas of the column gets used.  If you are using floating pellets with nothing but bottom or midcolumn feeders, you are going to have a lot of leftover floating food, and vice versa with the bottom of the tank.   By having a good mix of fish, you assure that food in all areas of the tank will get used, it is also the part that makes stocking the tank the hardest because you need fish whos dietary needs somehow mix into a reasonable way to feed them every day.
That being said, go with a school of cories, they are mid-bottom column, and serve a good purpose of eating LOTS

 

[hobby5]

No you don't Need a pleco! This is a common misconception that one needs a fish to do a job. No fish will do a job for you. You have to cater to their needs and set up the tank accordingly. Btw all your tanks are overstocked and you still think about new fish?

 

[Seal36]

If you have read some of my other posts hobby5 you can see that I know I'm overstocked which is why I was asking people on here which fish to get rid off to make some room and as I have had 12 fish die off in my main tank I think it is adequately stocked now. Also I don't think 2 kribensis and 7 rummy nose tetras in a 70 litre fish tank is overstocked I think that it is stocked correctly and thanks for everyone's input on this subject from Tom

 

[Rob5]

I would go for the corys. I had plecos many years ago which tended to just lay around all the time but i now have 8 Panda corys. At feeding time they dig around in the sand eating any food that reaches the bottom of the tank

 

[Seal36]

Ok thank you very much I think I will defiantly have some Cory's just don't know wether salt and pepper or panda. Also would you say a 110 litre tank with theses fish in is over stocked

6 platy
2 guppies
6 five banded barbs
3 black neons
3 honey gourami
4 phantom tetra
2 apistogramma cacatuoides
1 mountain minnow (I know it's cold water)

From Tom

 

[hobby5]

Yes I would say so. Those 110l are brutto. In reality you got like 80-90l of water only. Also I don't think mixing apistos with corys is a good idea as they are both bottom dwellers, which will lead to conflicts. Why so many different fish? This is not collecting stamps. You should stick to 1-3 species per tank. Larger groups of a single species are much better than lots of small groups.

 

[Seal36]

Until I joined this forum I did not think if the implications of putting fish together and any conflicts that could arise. I was more like if I see a fish I like I would add it to the tank not really thinking if it is suited to the tank and to the other occupants. Also if it was up to you what would you take back and what would you keep. I really like the 5 banded barbs, honey gourami and the apistos. If this was your tank what would you do to it.

 

[hobby5]

How do the apistos and the honey guramis get along? I once tried a pair of Apistogramma cacatuoides together with honey guramis in a tank of similar size. But the male apisto "hated" the guramis and it was no fun for those, even though the tank was well planted and structured. If yours get along I would go with the three species you like. Up the number of the barbs to 10 and that's it You will see, when the fish got space they are much more relaxed and will exhibited typical behavour, which you don't see when the tank is overcrowded.

 

[Seal36]

The honey gourmai and the apistogramma get on fine because the male and the gourami are the same size. Would you up anything else because I was thinking 10 barbs, 5 gouramis 3 female and 2 male and 3 apistos add another female from Tom

 

[hobby5]

Can  you give us a full tank shot?
 
Introducing a second female apisto will be difficult, as the first female has set up territory already. You can try, but it will likely not work out. I would stick with the pair for now. It should be somewhat easier to add 2 more honey gourami.

 

[Seal36]

I can give you a full tank shot but it won't be until tomorrow. I will leave the apistogramma as they are then. I really like the honey gourami so will defiantly add 2 more females. And with the 10 five banded barbs, 5 honey gourami and 2 apistogramma would you say that it is full or would I be able to fit some Cory's in as the apistos are small and don't bother anyone and are the shyest fish in the tank from Tom