Pitbull Pleco?!

[CJH0825]

I've been doing some research on getting a pleco. I originally wanted to go with a oto, But can't find them here where I live and have heard horror stories from people about ordering online. So, I was thinking about getting 2 or 3 Pibull. Are they still illegal to export from Brazil?

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

As in Parotocinclus jumbo (or P. spilosoma, that often come in as "contaminants")?
http/www.planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?species_id=157
 
What makes you think they are illegal to export from Brazil? Maybe I missed news relating to them specifically.
 
I would treat these like any other social fish, 6 at an absolute minimum.
 
What size (dimensions please for clarity) and tankmates will these be going in?

 

[CJH0825]

I was going to get it for my 55g tank ( 48 inches long, 13 inches wide, 21 inches tall ). It's a community tank, Brilliant Rasbora, Red Line Danio, Swordtail, Platy, Golden Rainbow Shark, Pair Kribensis, Kuhli Loach.
 
I'm having a little algae build up ( nothing major ) but wanted to get it under control before it does get bad. 
 
As far as them being illegal to export from Brazil, That is what I have been reading on every site that I find info about them on. 
 
I wanted something with some color, Rather than just the straight black or grey. I like the colors the Pitbull has ( being black and blue ).

 

[ZoddyZod]

I am not aware of them being on any banned exportation list. Are you confusing them with zebra plecs?
 
Bulldog plecs require cooler water than your starnd tropical set up. They also like a stong current and highly oxygenated water.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

I would be concerned about putting Pitbull Plecs in that setup because of the Rainbow Shark and Kribs, both will far outgrow the catfish and are often very aggressive (especially the cichlids at breeding time). Long term, I'd also be concerned for your existing loaches, they are so shy and fragile compared to your other bottom dwellers.
 
Algae growth and its control comes down to how you are maintaining the setup, I'm guilty of it myself, my one tank with daily lighting for plants (my 620T) has a fair bit of algae over the acrylic sides and on the Anubias. Find the cause of your outbreak (eg. excess lighting intensity/duration; ferts; varying carbon dioxide levels etc.) and you should be able to remove it yourself and have it gone from your tank.

 
By all means get a fish if you really want a specific fish that happens to relish the algae you happen to have growing, but don't get a fish simply to solve a maintenance issue.
 
If it was me and I really wanted a fish that happened to like algae, I would look at a singleton "Black eyed Lemon BN Plec" often incorrectly sold as L144. They are far more hardy than Parotocinclus; Hypoptopoma; Otocinclus spp. and should grow to at least ~10cm (a far better size match for the adult Kribs and slightly larger Rainbow Shark).

 
 
Bulldog plecs require cooler water than your starnd tropical set up. They also like a stong current and highly oxygenated water.

Zod, are you getting mixed up between Pitbull (Parotocinclus spp.) and Rubbernose (Chaetostoma spp.)?

 
"In the wild, P. jumbo is collected from flat areas in the middle course of the river. These are shallow, clear waters with low current, sandy and rocky bottoms, and marginal vegetation."
http/www.planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?species_id=236 (just realised I linked to spilosoma earlier in thread)

 

[CJH0825]

I do regular maintenance on my tank ( 50% WC every 3 days and 75% WC on Saturdays when doing a vacuum ). I was told that my algae issue is due to too much light ( even though my tank isn't in any sun light ) and was told to cut back the lighting to 3 hrs a day and cover the tank with a sheet for 3 days and my algae would be gone. Whether this would work or not, I don't know. I do have 3 live plants ( Water Sprite, looking at getting more ) and I thought that you had to have atleast 5 - 8 hrs of light a day for them ( even though they don't require much light ). There are so many opinions out there from everyone on what exactly you should with a tank, ( rarely does one person say the same as someone else ) that it's confusing as actually what to do. I guess it's a trial and error and finding what works best for you and your setup.

 

[the_lock_man]

Easily done, "Pitbull" & "Bulldog".

 

[Sophie]

I was told that my algae issue is due to too much light ( even though my tank isn't in any sun light ) and was told to cut back the lighting to 3 hrs a day and cover the tank with a sheet for 3 days and my algae would be gone.

 
I've heard more bad stories about doing blackouts rather than good but *shrug* again, as you said you have to try these things sometimes to see if it works for you.
8 hours is a good time period for plants - anything more and you end up killing the plants themselves if you don't use CO2 or ferts. I'm thinking the advice was intended for internal lighting rather than sunlight.
You say you do plenty of water changes so nitrates wouldn't be a problem.
 
If you plan on doing a 'blackout' do plenty of research first. I read a few replies from Jeremy Gay from Pratical Fishkeeping who says he strongly disagrees with this method - I would like to take his advice before a lot of people on the net
 
Good luck!

 

[MBOU]

Pitbull plecs are definately banned from export from Brazil, came into force at the beginning of the year I think They aren't however banned from export from Columbia, though....still not seen them available very many times.

 

[m00ms]

i had a bull dog pleco (little green fella) is that the same as pit bull pleco?
 
he was damn territorial and aggressive,he owned every rock,every bit of wood and would share nothing with any house mates.
 
i tried many things like removing him from tank for a week then putting him back in so he would be "new" to the tank and pick a rock but no he wanted everything again!!
 
tried swapping rocks around to see if he would share rocks,wood but no that didnt work.
 
in the end i gave him to work mate as he was just winding all other fish up!! shame but not to be.i do have a good look when i see them in shops.

 

[MBOU]

Pitbull Plec
http/www.aquahobby.com/gallery/img/Parotocinclus_jumbo_1.jpg
 
Bulldog Plec
http/www.plantedtank.net/forums/images/fish/42_Bulldog_Pleco_Chaetostoma_cf_thomasi.e.jpg
 
They are really very different looking fish!

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Hard to say what you had without a photo, it could easily be a totally different catfish to the Pitbull and Bulldog Plecs already discussed here, for example a Baryancistrus demantoides or Hemiancistrus subviridis (both sold as L200 Plecs).

 
Chaetostoma (Bulldogs) can be a little territorial, my three take no stick off my mischievious Steatocranus ultraslender duo.
 
On the other hand, I believe Parotocinclus (Pitbulls) are quite placid, just like Otocinclus.