Gold Nugget Pleco In Mbuna

[nukeonekitty]

Well I know a lot of you guys like bn plecos in mbuna tanks, but I have recently wanted to put a gold nugget pleco into mine. Comments?

 

[kribensis12]

I dont know if they can handle the aggression. But you can be one of the first to try and tell us how it works out. Besides what I said, I would give it the O.K. becuase I want to figure out what happens.

 

[tnhowery]

I would agree with kribs go ahead and try it but being the price is high on a GN i would have another tank ready and waiting just in case any problems arise...

 

[nukeonekitty]

Yeah... true... I can always throw him in the 20 gal. I need ferris though!

 

[mark7616]

I had a gn in with my mbuna it lasted 1 week then died through harrasment and the fact that gn are probably the most delicate fish out of the plecs so probably wouldt be able to cope with the high ph aswell.

 

[Ferris]

IMO most Plecs will probably survive with Mbuna but will live a pretty miserable stressed life. Big commons and sailfins are an exception to this, simply due to their size - Mbuna don't really bother them - of course both of these species need big tanks and are not always an option. My 65 gal is just about big enough for my adult common (but only just).

BN's seem to work well enough but i still wonder about the quality of life they have with these aggressive fish.

I personally wouldn't put something as expensive and peaceful as a GN plec in a Mbuna tank but that's just my opinion.

 

[hellkef]

i think some one on another forum as one in her tanks

 

[nukeonekitty]

I want a big pleco, but I can't because my tank is only 13" front to back... I guess I will just stick with the ol' bn pleco.

 

[Ferris]

There are quite a few different species/colour variation of the BN Plec so still some choice there. I had a jet black male a few years back and he was a stunner.

 

[nukeonekitty]

Ferris you're such an optimist! I would like to find a black one, that'd be neat.

 

[Soaup]

I just bought a large common he is about 7 inchs now in my 125 gallon tank. The mbuna's seem to be afraid of him if anything. I dont know about the gold nugget's size is key when it comes to pleco's the cichlids usually wouldnt bother anything thats a lot bigger then them. The plecos also tend to themselves and dont start problems with the mbuna. Your best bet would be a large common pleco. How large is your tank?

 

[nukeonekitty]

My tank is 90 gal but is only 13 inches front to back (72"x13"x21")

 

[G_Sharky]

your gold nugget might survive the harrassment, but it wont survive hunger...trust me GN are very hard to get feeding especially if they are not comfortable with their environment plus it has to compete with a bunch of aggressive fish for food...I don't have a mbuna tank, but a peacock tank and I had success with fancy plecs like the greenspot, rhyno, leopard plec...they survive because they would feed on the algae and not the cichlid food....just my 2 cents....

 

[nukeonekitty]

Yeah I was actually thinking about that....

 

[Ferris]

they survive because they would feed on the algae and not the cichlid food....just my 2 cents....

A very good point

Long time....no see G_Sharky - where you been?