What kind of Pleco could I get?

**LosC** · 03-10-2008, 04:52 AM

What kind of Pleco could I get, if any, for my 20g tank. Check sig.

**jbeining75** · 03-10-2008, 04:58 AM

A 20 gallon is rough... How about some oto cats????? I guess a smaller pleco might work... I'd go with bristlenose or clown pleco but would lean towards maybe 3 or 4 oto cats.....

**LosC** · 03-10-2008, 05:16 AM

Rubbernose?

**jbeining75** · 03-10-2008, 05:18 AM

Rubberlip you mean??? They get around 5 inches while the clown and bristles get around 4 inches. He might be alright in a 20 gallon... I would really go with the oto cats though... A pleco in a 20 gallon is really going to effect the bioload of that tank alot....

**LosC** · 03-10-2008, 05:25 AM

Your right, I'll scrap the Pleco idea. I'm gonna look into Oto's

**LosC** · 03-10-2008, 05:33 AM

Oto's seem very risky.

**fins_n_fur** · 03-10-2008, 05:45 AM

Why do oto's seem risky? As long as your provide them food besides the algae in the the tank, you should be okay, and so should they.

**LosC** · 03-10-2008, 05:59 AM

From what I researched they have higher mortality rates and most die within the first few weeks. They would be competing with my Corys for food, I don't have much algae on the walls.

**fins_n_fur** · 03-10-2008, 06:15 AM

The poor buggers are probably literally starving to death once the algae is gone. If you supplement their diet with sinking wafers and veggies like cucumber and zucchini (courgette), and treat them like regular members of the tank (why wouldn't you), I think they'd be fine. Of course, someone with more experience might be able to expand upon expand this for you.

**Dave66** · 03-10-2008, 06:48 AM

Some sucker-mouthed cats suitable for a properly maintained 20 gallon, their adult size and proper number of specimens.

Ancistrus claro - 3 inches (6)
Otocinclus affinis - One inch (12)
Peckoltia vittata - Four inches (1)
Ancistrus dolichopterus - Five inches (single or sextet)

Those are four that are available. The Peckoltia needs to be just a single one, as they have territories and your tank is too small for more than one. The two Ancistrus species do well in small groups like six, as they are more gregarious and do well if there are several cave-like structures in the tank. The Otocinclus do far better in groups of a dozen or more, as they group together in their thousands in the vegetation-choked regions of the Amazon.
If the tank is planted, with driftwood and stones, it is ideal for the fish species I listed.

Dave