Pleco For My Tank

[danni79]

my tank is 72 litre so my hubby tells me..... I would love a small pleco but know some get huge...what type dont get too big? I have a clown loach and 2 neons and a little catfish looking fella (sorry Im bad).... any suggestions???

 

[WILDER]

You already have to many bottom dwellers in a 70 litre tank.
The tank is way to small for the clown loaches as they need 90 gallon tanks.
If you rehome the clown loach oto are small plecs but quite hard to keep.

 

[bigdave2009]

i would like to comment on the fact that clown loaches dont really grow much in about the first 5 years lol but yes they do get big, and they highly recommend atleast a minimum of 75 gallons *even that being to small. But if your clowns are small, then you have plenty of time to upgrade to a larger tank. Also, I agree that you already do have a lot of bottom feeder fish.

 

[mark.w.jones]

I would also add again that the clown loach is really not suitable for that tank. They get very boisterous and should always be kept in a school of 5+ which you simply don't have the room for. He will soon take of your tank. Better to return him sooner than later. You also need to add to your neons. Ideally at least 6 would be much better. What species is this "little catfish looking fella?" Can you post a pic or describe it better.

Two small Pleco options are:

1. A Bristle nose. Reaches about 3" in size.
2. A Pitbull Pleco. Reaches about 2 and a half "

Although don't buy them until you sort out your existing stocking issues.

 

[danni79]

thanks...so upset as ive had my loach for about a year now and i love him to bits. He never picks on other fish...bit shy and tends to hide untill teatime lol. isnt it strange how u get so attached to a fish will try and post a pccy of my little fishy

 

[danni79]

 

[danni79]

just been looking on other tropical fish keepers sites and it had a gallery. one tank (80 litres) Has 2 clown loaches, 6 black neons, 13 blue neons, 2 opal gourami's, 2 bronze cat fish, 5 guppies, 6 swordtails. My guess is that if im overloading mine this is ridiculously over loaded??

 

[ShoC]

Wow

 

[danni79]

just been looking on other tropical fish keepers sites and it had a gallery. one tank (80 litres) Has 2 clown loaches, 6 black neons, 13 blue neons, 2 opal gourami's, 2 bronze cat fish, 5 guppies, 6 swordtails. My guess is that if im overloading mine this is ridiculously over loaded??

 

[Davo86]

just been looking on other tropical fish keepers sites and it had a gallery. one tank (80 litres) Has 2 clown loaches, 6 black neons, 13 blue neons, 2 opal gourami's, 2 bronze cat fish, 5 guppies, 6 swordtails. My guess is that if im overloading mine this is ridiculously over loaded??

Yes it is, just to give you a ver rough idea an 80L tank is approx 21G and stocking with 21 inches of small fish would be a very respectable stocking for that sized tank,

opaline gouramis x 2 = 8 inches
neons x 13 = 13 inches
bronze cory x 2 = 6 inches
black neon x 6 = 6 inches
guppys x 5 = 5 inches
swods x 6 = 18 inches

total 56 inches in 21 gallons without including the clown loach, this is also based on average sizes of fish, some may get even larger.

you state that your clown loach always hides, this is due to him being a very sociable fish in a tank on his own, also do you have any more pics of the catfish, from the current image i would say that it isn't a corydoras, so it may well be another fish that will outgrow your tank,

Edit: also do you know the dimensions of the tank? it may be just me but the picture makes the tank look slightly bigger than 72 litres

 

[danni79]

will get hubby to measure it later. I dont know where the tape measure is lol. So lets say I have a 72 litre tank. What mix of fish will look attaractive and keep me happy?

also since putting my loach in the bigger tank he seems to be alot more active! He so cute! I dnt wanna get rid.
should I set up a tank just for him and maybe a couple of other loaches? How bigg will I need for this?

 

[mark.w.jones]

A slightly better picture would have helped Post it in the catfish section as theyre much better at IDs than I am.

 

[danni79]

A slightly better picture would have helped Post it in the catfish section as theyre much better at IDs than I am.

He wont sit still lol. I will try!

 

[Ian H]

oh and bristle nose plecs get to around 5" or 6" not 3"

 

[Davo86]

What mix of fish will look attaractive and keep me happy?

hmm, it would depend on your interests, I reccomend researching through some of the fish on these pages
fish list
smaller characins and labyrinth fish or livebearers could all work well in your size of tank

also since putting my loach in the bigger tank he seems to be alot more active! He so cute! I dnt wanna get rid.
should I set up a tank just for him and maybe a couple of other loaches? How bigg will I need for this?

what size is your bigger tank? ideally a minimum of 3 clowns would work well and you'll find them to be much more active in the tank, a tank of aroundt 200 litres would be required for them, at the least