L128 And L200

[mattlee]

as title says really. im looking for a couple of medium plecs that get no bigger than 7 inches really and the L128 and L200 have really caught my eye.

tank is a 60x18x24

water medium/hard
temp 26C
pH 7.4

also will they leave plants alone as im thinking of going down that route again....?

 

[xingumike]

First thing to consider is that there are 2 seperate species that fall under the L200 'name', Baryancistrus demantoides ('L200 Hi-fin') and Hemiancistrus subviridis.

B. Demantoides is a smaller fish and to my eyes, prettier.

There is a theory (which I believe) that L128 and H. subviridis are the same fish, they both come from the Rio Orinoco, L128 being more northerly.

I have kept B. demantoides and L128 together succesfully, see picture below, usual caveat about having enough territories etc applies, the tank is big enough to house both.

As for plants, as with most plecos, don't expect any rooted in the substrate to remain unmolested, something like Anubias or Java Fern mounted on wood should survive (at least it did for me).

 

[mattlee]

cheers Mike i was kinda wishing you would answer this one

 

[xingumike]

No worries, happy fishing.

I would be tempted to try a small colony of 'Hi-fins', wish I could get them easily here.

 

[simonas]

Like Mike Ive kept both before with no problems other than the usual pleco territorialness

Mike that L200 is gorgeous

 

[mattlee]

ive now got 2 juvi 3 inch ish L200's.

how many can i get in my tank before they get overcrowded?

also would adding a larger L200 work with 2 juvis or should i go for same size fish if i add more?

ive done a seperate thread asking these questions but thought i would stick it here too.....

here are my 2

 

[xingumike]

I would stick with the same size to be safe.

What other bottom dwellers are in there?

 

[simonas]

ive kept the two fish before with nothing more unusual than plec territorialness, infact if I see a L200 locally I will get one

 

[mattlee]

I would stick with the same size to be safe.

What other bottom dwellers are in there?

i have 2 x L200, 1x L309 and 2 x pitbull plecs that can be removed if this helps. ive got 5 x bolivian rams too that do spend a lot of time at the bottom of the tank but not official bottom dwellers....

 

[xingumike]

I think you should be ok with another 2 or 3 in there provided there is plenty of territories.

I wouldn't worry about the Pitbulls, they are the most gregarious Lori I have ever kept.

 

[mattlee]

thanks Mike ill keep an eye out for a couple more juvis then.

there only seems to be 5-6 inch specimins available at the minute though

 

[xingumike]

The larger one(s) could work you just run an increased risk of one of them being overly dominant straight away.

If you are after a colony then I would probably chance it but then I have made some idiotic stocking choices with Loris in the past and got away with it.

Much more by luck than any kind of judgement I think though!