Small Pleco Question

[CatoeSc]

Hello. I am brand new to this forum and hoped someone might be able to help me out. I have a 40 gallon tank that is currently cycling and would like to get 2 small plecos once the bacteria are fully established. Can anybody recommend a small pleco that would potentially breed in the tank?

[Richard B]

The most obvious choice would be the common bristlenose. Widely available, hardy, easy to breed, inexpensive.

Experience with these will stand you in good stead to progress to easier hypancistrus species like L066.

[CatoeSc]

Thanks for the tip. What are your thoughts on the Gold Nugget? I know it's expensive, but they are very attractive and if they will breed, I will trade with my LFS.

[MatsP]

What are your thoughts on the Gold Nugget?

These are fairly hard to keep alive long term (I'm just one of many people who have failed!), and if you are actually thinking of breeding something, then these are definitely not "beginner plecos". The number of knowng (successful) different pairs that have spawned known to Planet Catfish is, I believe, "two" - one at a zoo in Germany, and one from the offspring from that Zoo. I'm not saying you shouldn't ever try - or that you shouldn't keep this fish, but if the purpose of getting the fish is to breed them, then Gold Nuggets are quite a long way from the "easy" end of the scale.

You may want to have a look at this article here:
http://www.planetcatfish.com/shanesworl ... cle_id=382

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Mats

[2wheelsx2]

Gold nuggets are actually pretty cheap, but as MatsP says, they are difficult to keep. I've had a number through the years and I currently still have only one. They only take a long time to mature and require a bigger tank to breed. I would recommend Ancistrus (the common one) if you just want to breed something, but if you want to breed something that someone is going to want to buy and not end up with a bazillion babies, you have to find one of the not so common varieties of Ancistrus. For my money, I'd try my hand at some Hypancistrus, L129, L333, L201. Those have all bred in my tanks without me having to lift a finger other than feeding and changing water.

[Narwhal72]

It should also be pointed out that Gold Nuggets are by no means a "small" pleco. They top out about 14" in standard length (from tip of nose to base of tail). Those you see sold in stores are small juveniles.

I agree with the other posters that various bristlenose (Ancistrus) species are better choices for a small pleco that is easy to care for and breed. Hypancistrus and Peckoltia species are also small species but require more specific care than Ancistrus to thrive and spawn.

Andy

[CatoeSc]

Will plecos do okay with course substrate? My substrate isn't exactly smooth. I guess the same should be asked about corys, too.

[MatsP]

Cories, definitely should have fine/soft/rounded sand substrate. I kept corys on different substrate for a while, but you should see the difference it makes to have them on sand - they dig to their eyeballs, quite literally. Plecos aren't too picky, but I do have sand with all of mine...

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Mats