Common Plec Scratching Glass?!

[Pasutaman]

k so i was checkin out my pleco today, he likes to stick himself up to the glass most of the time and suck away, and it appears that there are tiny hairline scratches on the inside of the tank where he likes to hang out. so my question is: is he scratchin up my tank with his hard body and is it gunna lead to a crack or has it just always been there and ive enevr noticed them. need an answer ASAP as id rather lose the tank and get the fish (and water) out before it explodes in my bedroom. tanks a 30gal if thats important.

[Red]

well, is it acyrlic? If so, then I can see him doing it. If not, then I have never heard of a pleco being able to do that.

But the problem is, the common pleco will grow 14" and make the tank real dirty. So you should start looking for a home now before he gets to big..

[smaug]

If its glass,unless your plec is made from something other then fish then no,he cant be scratching the glass.

[Northernguy]

You may have scratched the tank by cleaning it.Its easy to pick up some gravel or sand when cleaning around the bottom.
I can't see a pleco scratching your glass or even acrylic tank.

[Pasutaman]

k thanks guys, just didnt want the huge cleanup on ym hands!

[Gayle]

Yeah the pleco cant do that. He may like that place becuase there are a few indentions there that fill up with goodies for him to eat. But he also cant stay in a 30g for very long. Some plecos sold as commons get very very large.

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]
Scroll almost half way down this page, good pic of a common full grown.

[Mith]

Just a hint.......

IF and WHEN you are cleaning the glass of your tank... try not to siphen the gravel prior to doing so or disturb the substrate at all. The micro debris will stick to the glass and then when you go to wipe it... voila... SCRATCHES!