Pleco, Shrimp, Or Cory Cats?

[lillykinloo]

Hi again! Well, I obviously didn't get great advice at my LFS about the cycling issue, and I've learned my lesson. So, I wanted to check here before deciding on a bottom-of-the-tank fish. I have a 37 gallon Eclipse "show tank." Right now, it's cycling, so I only have 5 Diamond Tetras. My plan is to eventually add 3 Pearl Gouramis (1 Male and 2 females). I am trying to decide on a fish for the bottom of the tank, and ideally, I would like a fish that also helps to clean excess food and algae.

Originally, I wanted a Gold Nugget Pleco. But, the LFS said Gold Nuggets can be sensitive and are better for more mature tanks. Instead, he has recommended very tiny pleco for me. I am unsure what kind: it looked gray with a darker gray pattern on it. Would a small pleco be a good option for me?

I also like Cherry Shrimp, but I wasn't sure if they would work in my tank?

Or, should I go with Cory Cats instead?

Thanks for any advice you can offer!

 

[crazie.eddie]

If it is a common pleco, then it will outgrow your tank. Brissltenose plecos remain small and are good algae eaters.

Cory cats would work as well.

Cherry shrimps may become a meal for the gouramis.

 

[-cAtFiSh-]

I'd get a bristlenose pleco if I were you. They are hardy, look awesome and are great at cleaning algae off the tank! They can't, however, live entirely off algae so you need to feed them some sort of sinking pellet food such as algae wafers. They also eat vegetables such as cucumber.
I find that young bristlenoses are quite sensitive so it would be best to buy an adult one because your tank is new.

 

[rockerBOO]

Pleco's can be hard to get unless you can tell the differences. They also sometimes mis-label some of the fish at some larger pet chains. But a pleco would work.

Cory cats are really nice. I would suggest 5-6 or so. Try and get a good mix of male/female (Males are slimmer, Females look bigger, and chubbier). My cory cats have spawned 7 times in the last month or so. I do not have the room at the moment to breed them though .

Shrimp are cool, but some medications harm them, and as you are adding fish to the tank, you might have to treat for things. So a little waiting can help if you need to medicate soon off for ick and so on.

 

[LisaLQ]

A bristlenose would be great, and best of all - no huge price tag of the more expensive ones in case you're worried about your tank being mature enough.

Here's Wilf, my albino BN:

 

[Miss Wiggle]

yeah a nice BN would do you could have one and some cories i reckon

 

[stackem evs]

I've seen what I believe was a Gold Nugget Pleco at my lfs. It was about £25-, but somewhere I've seen some info about they can grow upto 30cm. While this could be ok in my 45gal tank it is larger than I would like in there. I like the look of the bristlenose but the missus hates it, including the female (lot less bristles).

I have seen the grey with grey patterns on, cant remember name but only meant to grow to about 15cm max, about the size of the bristlenose I believe.

Maybe endup with the shoal of corries no? Do alot less damage to plants and wood than a large Gold Nugget Pleco would (sure someone will tell me otherwise...).

A bristlenose would be great, and best of all - no huge price tag of the more expensive ones in case you're worried about your tank being mature enough.

Here's Wilf, my albino BN:

I like the albino version Lisa, are they easy to get? Or like the zebra I liked, price tag £200 - £300.

 

[lillykinloo]

Sounds like the Bristlenose Pleco may be the best way to go for me. And, I may just look into a BN Pleco and a few Cory Cats (if I can fit it in my tank without overtocking). I think the Cory Cats are cute. How large should I expect Cory Cats to get? I really like the Panda Cory Cats.

That Albino BN Pleco is quite lovely-thanks for sharing!

The person at the LFS told me to wait at least one month before getting any Pleco at all. Do you agree?

 

[aquila]

Bristlenoses are awesome. I've never seen one go over 6 inches so it'd be the perfect size for your tank and the albino ones are always a talking point. A male is more interesting as they have more and bigger bristles. Cheap too, I got my one-incher for £3 and it tripled in size within about a month.

If you've only recently cycled your tank I'd give it a month or even two before you add a pleco to allow some algae to form for it. You'll need to supplement it with cucumber, algae wafers etc. also but it needs something to graze on all the time. Talking of which BN's also need access to some bogwood to rasp on.

Never had corys so can't help you there

 

[Miss Wiggle]

panda cories stay pretty small, i believe around 1", they're very delicate so you need to wait until the tank's been running 6 months with no problems before you get any

 

[lillykinloo]

Ok, thanks again for all of the advice! I think I may go with one bristlenose pleco and 5-6 corys. That would be about all that my tank can fit, and I've really developed a liking for the corys. Would it be ok to add other types of corys (like the Brochis variety) after 1 month, or should I wait 6 months before adding any type of cory? Thanks!

 

[Colonel Mustard]

otocinclus catfish or Siamese Algae Eaters are good to
http/www.otocinclus.com/intro.html

 

[Sibelius]

There are three true "dwarf" corydoras species that you might be interested in looking into. C. Pygmaeus, C. Hastatus, and C. Habrosus.

 

[t.ropical_m.istx3]

i got pygmy corys and they're adorable. hard workers, too. the one leopard cory i had gave himself a concussion and died . $5 for a suicidal fish...but he was adorable, too. i also think the panda and albino corys are cute, too. just my little two cents, though it wasn't very informationable.