Big mistake or not?!?!?!

[spittinfly]

I know, I know..... Another thread from this guy!

I'm sorry I feel like everybody else that just buys on instinct. I thought my wife liked the Chinese Algae Eaters but no it was the plecos. I have just been reading about the CAE's and they seem like a terrible mistake. Being quite aggressive and territorial. I got two of them in with my Platies and Mollies. Should I just return them and get a pleco or will I have to get a couple if they school. I don't have a lot of flat surfaces in my 35 gal hex except for the glass. Gotta do it fast, 7 day return policy. What is anyone elses experiences with these?

 

[neilanh]

I recommend you return them. you obviously don't want them, and the LFS will take them back. No reason not to return them.

 

[spittinfly]

Well it's not that I wouldn't want them but now I am scared of them taking over my tank. I don't want the others quality of life to go down. If I am just overreacting I would love to keep them, they look pretty cool hanging around.

 

[theotheragentm]

Return them. Unless they're with larger fish, they will get aggressive. I gave one to my friend, who has a larger tank. It doesn't seem to bother the fish that stay really small, but even fish like Platies and Mollies it will bother.

See if you can find a Siamese Algae Eater instead. They look similar, but are peaceful. It may be difficult to tell them apart from other fish. See this page for information on them.

 

[Zagz]

I have a CAE, I kept him with community fish until he got to be 4". Now at almost 8" he is in with my african cichlids in a 125 gal tank. He is not at all aggressive in that tank, but he would eat the slime coat off of smaller more peaceful fish. Return him and get a dwarf pleco, not a common pleco. Common plecos get too large for most home aquariums.

 

[Blazeherd2306]

Indeed, stay away from the common plecos. Those suckers (no pun intended) get huge.

Bristlenose plecos and clown plecos stay small and are good choices for smaller tanks.

 

[Gillie]

Was that pleco caught in the pond in the background?

 

[Blazeherd2306]

Yes, most likely. I found that pic on google.

There are tons of them in Florida.

 

[Sicklid]

There are tons of everything in Florida. I used to catch Oscars in Fort Lauderdale, and I know there are whole canals full of Firemouths in Miami, among other things.

As far as the CAE's go, I would return them. I had a Clown Pleco that was just as cute as a bugs ear, never got bigger than about 3".

 

[spittinfly]

Thanks everyone. I checked them out and do have the CAE. I am going to return them but probably not until Mon-Tue. Will be out of town all weekend, Family Night at Lambeau Field GO PACK! (sorry)