17g and bn pleco?

[Mumma.of.two]

Have a tank that is just over 17g and I'm planning on having 6-7 neon rainbows in there. Now I know bnp need minimum 20g but could I get away with one in a 17? I have 3 in my 70g and I really love them

 

[toddnbecka]

A young one wouldn't be bad, females also tend to be smaller than males, but I'd really recommend LDA-08 for a 20 gallon (or smaller) tank.

 

[Mumma.of.two]

A young one wouldn't be bad, females also tend to be smaller than males, but I'd really recommend LDA-08 for a 20 gallon (or smaller) tank.

Wow they are beautiful. I dont know how/where I would be able to get one of those where I am.

 

[User]

lol an L046 if you have the money. Always wanted one..

 

[toddnbecka]

Oh, I didn't notice you're in Oz, may not even be any of them on the continent. I've heard about the uber-strict regulations regarding imported species, though I just can't picture the wee pleco's running amok and taking over the native ecosystems like aquatic cane toads.
Ironically, the L-46 would probably be easier to find, though not to afford. Last I heard they were going for $1000 each down under. If I was younger and dumber I'd be tempted to try smuggling some.

 

[Mumma.of.two]

Oh, I didn't notice you're in Oz, may not even be any of them on the continent. I've heard about the uber-strict regulations regarding imported species, though I just can't picture the wee pleco's running amok and taking over the native ecosystems like aquatic cane toads.
Ironically, the L-46 would probably be easier to find, though not to afford. Last I heard they were going for $1000 each down under. If I was younger and dumber I'd be tempted to try smuggling some.

Yeah heaps of the cool stuffs not available here. I kinda sucks reading all the nice fish and inverts you guys can keep. I think I would get shot if I spent that much on a fish lol.

 

[toddnbecka]

Neon rainbows = praecox? That's a much worse idea in a small tank than the pleco. I had a proper group (3m/2f) in a 55 with cover available and they still hammered each other to death. I'm currently looking for some M. parva rainbows. Smaller, more colorful, and not nearly as conspecific-aggressive from what I've gathered. Found several people who breed them, just looking for the best deal.

 

[Mumma.of.two]

Neon rainbows = praecox? That's a much worse idea in a small tank than the pleco. I had a proper group (3m/2f) in a 55 with cover available and they still hammered each other to death. I'm currently looking for some M. parva rainbows. Smaller, more colorful, and not nearly as conspecific-aggressive from what I've gathered. Found several people who breed them, just looking for the best deal.

Yes praexox. Really? All the info I found on them said 55L minimum and my tanks 65L. I do have a 270L(70g) that I can always put them in if trouble arises. I already have 2. I did have 7 an they lived quite happily for 2 weeks then ich struck and I lost one after the other til I was left with 2.

 

[toddnbecka]

I was surprised, expected them to be peaceful, schooling fish. The dominant male just wouldn't give the others a break though. I've seen too many "minimum tank size" recommendations that simply don't work, gotta wonder if they're thinking of 1 fish there rather than a pair or group.

 

[Mumma.of.two]

Mmm ok. Well I have the 2 and I definitely need to get them some friends so I might do some fish shuffling and fit them into my 70g. I don't want them to be unhappy.

 

[toddnbecka]

A larger group may have been helped spread the aggression around, but I didn't have stocking space or more adult praecox available.

 

[siva]

Have a tank that is just over 17g and I'm planning on having 6-7 neon rainbows in there. Now I know bnp need minimum 20g but could I get away with one in a 17? I have 3 in my 70g and I really love them

IMO minimum tank size for BN and similar sized plecos is 29 gals.

 

[Mumma.of.two]

IMO minimum tank size for BN and similar sized plecos is 29 gals.

Thanks. It looks like I'm going to have to reevaluate my plans for my tank. I thought I was doing so well too! Been doing so much research feels like my head is going to explode lol.

 

[toddnbecka]

A 29 is rather limited for stocking options. Good size tank for an established breeding pair of a number of cichlid species, or smaller schooling fish like tetras.

 

[Mumma.of.two]

A 29 is rather limited for stocking options. Good size tank for an established breeding pair of a number of cichlid species, or smaller schooling fish like tetras.

??? I already have my tank. 17g

 

[Mumma.of.two]

Ok im going to need some help with what fish should I move to my 17g from my 70g so my rainbows will fit in the 70.

70g has
3 bn pleco
1 dwarf gourami (male)
1 betta (female) - being picked on by shark. Needs to move.
1 red tail shark - staying in 70
4 black skirt tetra - getting 4-8 more
5 guppies (male)
5 peppered cories - wanting 2 more
1 angel -1 inch long (not that it matters)

17g
2 neon rainbows - getting 4-5 more.
7 or 8 guppy fry - going to LFS in next week or 2.

So with the betta going to the 17 and the rainbows going to the 70 (keeping in mind there is going to be 6-7 of them) do I need to move any more fish to the 17? Or can I keep it as is including the fish I plan to add? Meaning can get some new fish for the 17.

 

[toddnbecka]

Should be fine with those fish in the 70, not sure what would mix with the betta in the 17 though.

 

[Mumma.of.two]

Should be fine with those fish in the 70, not sure what would mix with the betta in the 17 though.

So all the fish including the extra tetras and cories too? The betta is such a sook. She is the one getting picked on lol.

Just checking I read that right.

 

[toddnbecka]

Ya, the dwarf gourami and redtail shark are the only territorial fish on the list, and a 70 has plenty of space (relatively speaking.) IME tetras like the black skirts like to hang around with about a bodylength between them. They will cluster more tightly if disturbed, otherwise they spread out across the width of the tank more. I have 9 Colombian and 5 white (black) skirt tetras in my 125. Also 4 severums, 2 cutteri (same sex), 5 good-size silver dollars, 9 kubotai botia's, an L-204 and a handful of BN pleco's. More recently added 4 small yellow Lab's to the mix, will see how they get along after they mature.

 

[Mumma.of.two]

Ya, the dwarf gourami and redtail shark are the only territorial fish on the list, and a 70 has plenty of space (relatively speaking.) IME tetras like the black skirts like to hang around with about a bodylength between them. They will cluster more tightly if disturbed, otherwise they spread out across the width of the tank more. I have 9 Colombian and 5 white (black) skirt tetras in my 125. Also 4 severums, 2 cutteri (same sex), 5 good-size silver dollars, 9 kubotai botia's, an L-204 and a handful of BN pleco's. More recently added 4 small yellow Lab's to the mix, will see how they get along after they mature.

Thanks for your help!