loach vs pleco

[lef22]

ok i just added 2 small high fin plecos in my 55g tank with my three clown loaches. i really like pleco's especially the high fin's and as far as i know both clowns and plecos are compatible. however i did see the clowns harassing one of the plecos. you know how they suck on gravel or rocks, they were doing the same thing to my pleco.the pleco twiched and swam quicly away half of the times.Should i be concerned?

[smaug]

Your biggest concern are the ultimate size of those 5 fish.The clowns can reach 10-12" the sailfins will get that big or bigger as well.The clowns presumably grow slowly but I know the salfins get 10" in about 3-4 yrs.My advice is to get rid of 1 of the sailfin.

[lef22]

might give it away once it becomes too big. Still i don't get why everybody panicks with big fish.Sure many fish get big after a few years however you can always sell them once they get too big, there are many buyers for fully grown fish such as loaches and plecos that will pay good money. i mean isn't it the same as having fry and deciding to keep it although you know they won't fit the tank once they mature?

[smaug]

You have a different market then I got apparently.Around here nobody wants big plecs and few have tanks big enough for larger fish anyway.It was advice given from experiance,do what you want with it.Above all,stock your tank keeping in mind the ultimate size of the fish you are getting.

[Kaz]

might give it away once it becomes too big. Still i don't get why everybody panicks with big fish.Sure many fish get big after a few years however you can always sell them once they get too big, there are many buyers for fully grown fish such as loaches and plecos that will pay good money. i mean isn't it the same as having fry and deciding to keep it although you know they won't fit the tank once they mature?

That's the plan.

Doesn't always work out that way.

[mac]

I agree with Smaug, and Kaz. IMO I would return one of the Sail Fins.
As for keeping them in the tank, making their life hard is your choice. But IME I find it very hard to get rid of large fish unless they are more of a exotic fish not Plecos or Clowns, or Oscars. OTher fish which are hard to get I can get rid but nothing else.

Good luck, and always plan your tanks stoking with the ultimate size of your fish in mind. And as it is your tank is already over stocked. Just with he 5 fish you have, once they get fairly grown. More so on the Pleco's side, because they are great bio dumpers.

mac

[lef22]

well i'll take the advice into concideration. honestly though here, fully groen fish go quickly. i suppose there are many people that want a big fully grown fish and they want it right now. they are not willing to wait for 2 years.
still the reason i posted was to see whether the behaviour of the fish was something to be worried about. i take it that it's not