I think my Sailfin Pleco is a bully

[foxtrot1027]

I have an inch and half long spotted sailfin pleco who Ive observed running my Cories away from food. I also observed him nippin at one of the Faintail Goldfish. He was there for bottom duties but now I have the Cories so I guess he can go into the Cherry Barb tank. Is this common? I thought plecos were peaceful.

 

[Madame_X]

One of the more educated guys at my LFS has several fancy plecos, and he told me that sailfins were pretty tough. He recommended one when we were looking for a pleco in our cichlid tank, as he said they'd be able to take any aggression that was directed at them.

We opted not to get one since it would eventually outgrow even our 55 gallon tank.

I've also seen my bristlenose pleco chase the otos and synodontis away from potential food. Its not necessarily that she's a bully, but she definitely fends for herself.