Cats and Plecs

[Dirt Diggler]

Of the smaller cats and plecs, which has the smaller bio-footprint?

 

[Dirt Diggler]

They are for a mbuna tank. I should have specified that.

 

[bettaowner]

How big is the tank?

 

[Dirt Diggler]

How big is the tank?

It's a 45 gallon. Got 12 juvie mbunas in it now. I think my LFS has zebra plecs and I'm about to buy them, but I wanted some info on their bioload compared to a s.peri catfish

 

[bettaowner]

The mbuna can be aggressive and I wouldn't risk getting something like a zebra pleco that could end up getting beat up. If you want a pleco, I'd use the bristle nose pleco.

 

[Dirt Diggler]

The mbuna can be aggressive and I wouldn't risk getting something like a zebra pleco that could end up getting beat up. If you want a pleco, I'd use the bristle nose pleco.

I've seen a lot about the BN pleco. How do they compare with the catfish as far as bioload is concerned?

 

[bud29]

It's a 45 gallon. Got 12 juvie mbunas in it now. I think my LFS has zebra plecs and I'm about to buy them, but I wanted some info on their bioload compared to a s.peri catfish

S. peri? Pardon me but what exactly is that? Do you mean syndontis petricola?

Also, zebra plecos? Those are usually MASSIVELY expensive ($150-$500 each). Are they truly zebra plecos or are they something like clown plecos?

Just for comparison

Zebra Plecos:
http://www.liveaquaria.com/images/categories/product/p-89980-pleco.jpg
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lgzscyhlj41qbs5d3o1_500.jpg

Clown Plecos:
http://www.aquariumlife.net/profile-images/clown-plecostomus.jpg
http://www.tropicalfishkeeping.com/fish-pictures/clown-pleco-1249379913-800.jpg

 

[Dirt Diggler]

S. peri? Pardon me but what exactly is that? Do you mean syndontis petricola?

Also, zebra plecos? Those are usually MASSIVELY expensive ($150-$500 each). Are they truly zebra plecos or are they something like clown plecos?

Just for comparison

Zebra Plecos:
http://www.liveaquaria.com/images/categories/product/p-89980-pleco.jpg
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lgzscyhlj41qbs5d3o1_500.jpg

Clown Plecos:
http://www.aquariumlife.net/profile-images/clown-plecostomus.jpg
http://www.tropicalfishkeeping.com/fish-pictures/clown-pleco-1249379913-800.jpg

Yes the s.petricola. I think I saw a couple at zebra plecs in the area. I'll have to check though. I THOUGHT they were zebra plecs, but I will have to go back and look again.

 

[bettaowner]

Most small plecos don't have a high bioload so they shouldn't be a problem.

 

[bud29]

Yes the s.petricola. I think I saw a couple at zebra plecs in the area. I'll have to check though. I THOUGHT they were zebra plecs, but I will have to go back and look again.

OK. Most LFS do not carry FW fish even close to the price of zebra plecos, so while I think they are probably clowns, it would be awesome if they truly were zebras.

Plecos in general are pretty big poop machines. However, their bioload is pretty comparable to that of other fish their size. I have heard stories of mbuna picking at pleco eyes - not sure how often that happens, but I know syndontis seem to be more often kept in an African tank.

 

[TheCommunityCichlid]

Could have been l333 or king tigers my lfs had them often.

 

[Dirt Diggler]

Could have been l333 or king tigers my lfs had them often.

I remember them being black and white, so I don't think they were clown plecos. They might have been the L333 plecos. I'll have to print the pictures off and take them with me to the LFS. I'll post a picture of whatever they are. It'd be sweet if there were a mix-up and I got the zebras. It could happen.

 

[TheCommunityCichlid]

I remember them being black and white, so I don't think they were clown plecos. They might have been the L333 plecos. I'll have to print the pictures off and take them with me to the LFS. I'll post a picture of whatever they are. It'd be sweet if there were a mix-up and I got the zebras. It could happen.

Hahaha I have the same fantasy.

 

[Dirt Diggler]

Hahaha I have the same fantasy.

Where do Cory cats fit? I see them, but are they mbuna safe?

 

[TheCommunityCichlid]

I would put then with my mbuna

 

[Dirt Diggler]

I would put then with my mbuna

Awesome. I'll have a cat mix for my tank now!

 

[bud29]

Awesome. I'll have a cat mix for my tank now!

Proceed with caution, due to the corys' small size. But it may work out

 

[TheCommunityCichlid]

I meant wouldn't put Cory's with mine. My mistake do not add!

 

[Dirt Diggler]

Turns out the fish I thought were zebras were Raphael cats! Once I got there, I saw the stripes and just shook my head. Well, it was nice to hope. I'm looking into the Corys as all my fish are juvies and are smallish. They function better in groups, but I don't want to overstock them.

 

[TheCommunityCichlid]

Raphael's would be fine with mbuna. Extremely armored but they tend to hide all day. I had one with my Africans for years along within eclipse catfish.