Recomend a pleco (non bristlenose)

[NigelBond]

I'd like to get a pleco for cleaning the glass in my discus tank. My LFS tells me not to do this but it looks like many here recomend using bristlenose plecos with out much problem. I have octocinclus and true SAEs in my tank but they don't realy do much on the glass.

Please shair your opinions on what kinds of plecos might work other than bristlenose. I personally find them hiddeous and would never get one.

[cobaltblue]

Ive had clown plecos, royal plecos and golden nugget plecos all with discus with no problems. I like BN the best though.

[swinters66]

Clown plecos are nice looking fish, but something about the bristlenose plecos...they are just so cool looking! Right now I keep a few Otos in my tank. Its not a large tank, I dont have the tank near any direct sun, and keep the lights on a certain amount of time, plus I am using silk plants, not real ones. So, I havent had any algae in my tank.

When I do get a pleco for my tank, I will most likely be a clown pleco. Nice markings on the ones Ive seen.

[kaceyo]

You really won't find any other kind that will do as good a job as the bristlenose, at least not that I know of. You might consider checking out some of the lesser known bristlenose strains as there are quite a few. Many are more brightly colored and have very interesting patterns. Try the Planet Catfish and Pleco Fanatics websites for advise on both other types of plecos and the variety of bristlenose.

Kacey

[lora]

I have a Snowball pleco with my discus, but I find that my apple snails do a good job at cleaning the glass as well.

[DiscusinDaytona]

I had a pleco that I kept w/discus, he was about 1 ft. Got along fine. I think they called him a chocolate chip? Years later after he died, I tried to keep another one. Brought one home, next am, dead. Repeat next day, dead. 3rd time watch pleco like a hawk. The discus "pecked" him to death. I was stunned! He was very small only about 2-2 1/2 in. I guess I needed a bigger one? I feed all live foods, they thought he was food??? Oops.

[Alight]

The female bristlenose pretty much look like common plecos. Also there are some very pretty BNs out there, as has already been suggested.

[billeagan]

For Algae maintenance the best one I have found is the rhino pleco out of Peru. In fact, I just brought in a box of them so I can have at least one in evyerone of my tanks. Downside is they poop a ton.

I have kept L260, L15, L177, L18, and few other types with discus with no issues.

[swinters66]

Oooh I love rhino plecos! We have a huge guy in our 150 gallon tank, along with a real small one...but I was told it wasnt a good idea to put the small rhino in my discus tank...is why I got the otos.

[Ed13]

http://planetcatfish.com/cotm/cotm.php?article_id=93
http://planetcatfish.com/cotm/cotm.php?article_id=118
http://planetcatfish.com/cotm/cotm.php?article_id=74
http://planetcatfish.com/cotm/cotm.php?article_id=307
http://planetcatfish.com/cotm/cotm.php?article_id=123
http://planetcatfish.com/cotm/cotm.php?article_id=103
http://planetcatfish.com/cotm/cotm.php?article_id=56
http://planetcatfish.com/cotm/cotm.php?article_id=112
http://planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=229
http://planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=1024
http://planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=642

These are just my favorites!

[NigelBond]

Thanks for the help, i think I will try either a clown, a golden nugget or a royal pleco. These three are usually availible locally. I belive the clown is cheapest so i'll most likely go with that.

[Martin]

All my "algea eaters" prefer the discus food, so I clean the glass myself.

[lhforbes12]

For Algae maintenance the best one I have found is the rhino pleco out of Peru. In fact, I just brought in a box of them so I can have at least one in evyerone of my tanks. Downside is they poop a ton.

I have kept L260, L15, L177, L18, and few other types with discus with no issues.

Bill,
Keep a couple for me. Oh wait, I don't have any algae... damn me! Keep a couple for me anyway please.

Larry

[lhforbes12]

Oooh I love rhino plecos! We have a huge guy in our 150 gallon tank, along with a real small one...but I was told it wasnt a good idea to put the small rhino in my discus tank...is why I got the otos.

Uhhhh... how big do they get?

[swinters66]

Our big one is about 7, maybe 8 inches long. I mean, Ive never seen one that big, so to me, yeah that's a huge rhino!!

[lesley]

I have a golden albino pleco (about 13") and two sailfins, plus about ten bristlenoses in my 6' discus tank. I almost never have to clean the glass. They are really fascinating to watch, many of my visitors are as interested in the plecs as the discus! My discus do occasionally pick at the sailfins, but with the driftwood they can head for shelter if need be.

The pleco forums all advise keeping them with driftwood and say that they actually need it, so if you don't want to have driftwood you need to consider another type of algae eater.

HTH

[billeagan]

Bill,
Keep a couple for me. Oh wait, I don't have any algae... damn me! Keep a couple for me anyway please.

Larry


No algae?? must be due to those gorgeous planted tanks you post pics of.

[NigelBond]

well i just got a clown pleco today. So far he hasn't show any interest in eating anything at all but I suppose he needs his adjustment period. Now i just gotta monitor it to make sure it isn't sucking on my discus.
If they dont get along do you think it would be ok to put him into my planted tank or would he tear up the plants?

[cobaltblue]

Clown wont bother the plants....at least mine dont at all. THey stay in amongst the driftwood pretty much 24\7

[swinters66]

I think most plecos feed at night...when you turn off the lights. We had a rhino pleco and I never saw him! I put some algae discs in one night and turned the lights off....and he came right out! Of course the rhinos I have now...they are out all the time, so whether they really do feed when the lights are off is just a guess IMO.

[Ed13]

Clowns are my favorite, small beautiful and very cheap!
Believe it or not panaques are usually found in the wood piles were discus like to hang at so it might be somewhat of a biotope.

[star rider]

clowns hang out in wood piles most likely because the eat wood. ;) it is a mainstay in their diet and needed for a healthy digestive trace..usually no a problem to keep in a tank with wood.

they will eat algae..just make sure you have wood in the tank

http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=734

[RKeiger]

L1s or Gibbiceps plecos are great for algae and won't harm even the smallest of fry or wigglers that hit the bottom.

[Ed13]

I'm not sure if a plec capable of 18" with a developing taste for meatier items as it grows older will leave fry or small fish alone;) . Still, very good choice for a big community tank housing larger fish.