Looking For A Loach/plec

[Timmy_Bee]

I am in the process aof re-homing my clown loaches and hopefully my common plecos will be gone soon too.
Its a shame to see these go as i have grown to love these guys, but i am fully aware of how big they will get...

So - i am looking for a new bottom feeder. My ideal atributes would be as follows:

Colourful
Gets alone with Barbs, including Tigers (this is a must)
doesnt look like a red tailed shark (as i have got one that might get aggressive)
doesn't grow much bigger than 3" or so (for a pair, or smaller for a shoal)
no special dietry requirments. I can handle sinking pellets, but not want to have to feed live food etc every day
preferably does a bit of algae maintinance.

I have had a good read of the pinned topic about small plecs, but was wondering what peoples preferences were?

By the way, im not overly keen on Corys, but i am willing to be perswaded

PS sorry for my spelling

 

[lilfishie]

Bristlenoses are great algae eaters but they are a bit like marmite (love um or hate um) but they come in a variety of fins types/colours

 

[moochy13]

there a list of small plecs in the plec/catfish section of this forum somebody recently put up. will help you with sizes.

 

[Timmy_Bee]

whats the best way to tell the difference between a BN and a common plec? i was quite sure i had a common, but now looking at some pics, it also looks identical to a BN.

 

[mrscullen5373]

Straight away I would say Pitbull Plecos (Parotocinclus Jumbo) not to be confused with bulldog plecos.
They grow to about 6 cm (2.5inch) they're very peaceful and should be housed in a minimum of 3 specimens(they really like company)

I have some myself and they are wonderful little plecos, always snuffling around looking for algae and left over food to munch on, very good cleaners.

There colours vary depending on how they feel, they are usually a greeny patten but when they are very happy (with mine its when i have just moved things around the tank for them to investigate or after a lovely meal of zucchini) they seem to go a gorgeous gold colour!
Quite the little chameleon.

Here are several links that should help you out -
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/129802-pitbull-pleco/
http/www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_Parotocinclus_jumbo.php
http/www.fishkeeping.co.uk/modules/caresheets/caresheet.php?caresheetID=8

Here is a link where you can see the gold colouring in the picture -
http/www.fishkeeper.co.uk/databank.aspx?id=349

here is an example of a really pretty green pattern on the image on this profile -
http/www.guitarfish.org/2008/03/11/pitbull-pleco-parotocinclus-jumbo

I hope this helps!
X x x x

 

[Timmy_Bee]

Yeah those pitbull's look nice!

The other thing i should have mentioned is that i have gravel substrate. Is this going to be an issue with these little guys, or any other loach / catfish you can think of?

 

[lilfishie]

best way to determin your pleco if your not sure on the id is to get a picture up

 

[Timmy_Bee]

i keep on meaning to get some pics up, but am always a bit self-concious of the fact some of my plants look a bit... dead.

Maybe i'll bite the bullet and put some up this eve (at work at the mo)

 

[gbailey141]

I have some dwarf chain loaches and they are very active and crazy little things. They all shoal around together and feed on sinking pellets.

Good luck.

Gav

 

[SJ2K]

Best way to tell the difference between a juvi BN and common? If its not a reputable supplier who you know and trust, dont get either. Most fish stores ive been to wont think twice before selling you a common or gibby. Pitbull are easy to tell from commons, safer bet.

 

[mrscullen5373]

I have some dwarf chain loaches and they are very active and crazy little things. They all shoal around together and feed on sinking pellets.

Good luck.

Gav

I really wanted some chain loaches as well Gav!

There are two problems with them though -
1. they fin nip
2. the price of them! because they are endangered in the wild they are very pricey
Unfortunatly because of that i decided against them, hopefully one day i will keep some though . . . one day

As regards the pitbull pleco, i have found they can be better on gravel than sand because gravel usually has old left overs inbetween the grains which they love to forridge for. As long as its not sharp or really big like pebbles then you should be fine with that. Can you find a picture of some similar shape gravel to yours on google images or something and attach a link so i can see?

Hope this helps x x x

 

[Carlovel1]

I recommend a shoal of Yoyo Loach
Wonderful little critters