Clown pleco substitute

[Smudgeboss]

Good evening.

We have had our 10 gal tank with gold skirt tetras in it for a number of months now and all seems to be going well. We have a regular pleco from the local fish store for the algae and he is getting huge. He started out about an inch and is now about 5 inches long. I am concerned that as he grows we will be out of order on the 2 inches /gallon guideline.

I have talked to a few fish stores here and in the city about getting a clown pleco but it seems that they are VERY hard to get.

Is there a substitute? Something that will eat the algae and left over food, something that will get along with the tetras, and will stay down to 2 to 2.5 inches like a clown pleco would?

Looking forward to your advice.

Thanks

 

[Jchillin]

If you do indeed have a common pleco, he will definitely outgrow the tank. You may be interested in these:

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=68483

 

[Zagz]

I see more assimilation coming! Seriously though, they are great pleco's.

 

[bosk1]

If you do indeed have a common pleco, he will definitely outgrow the tank. You may be interested in these:

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=68483

Whoa! How did you do that??? As I was reading, right after I read the word "these," your avatar morphed into Darth Sidious!

 

[Smudgeboss]

I haven't seen the bristlenose pleco in local stores. Are they more common than the clown or will I have the same problems getting one? 4 inches isn't too bad.

 

[Jchillin]

They may indeed be rare in your parts (I didn't take your location into account). We've actually had a member who was temporarily residing in Canada, come all the way back to NY and return with some of them for a Canadian member.

 

[aquanewbie72]

YAY a pleco thread.
Mind if I ask.... what are those pretty black & white swirly pattern plecos I've seen pix of? Do they stay small?

 

[Jchillin]

Depends...do you recall where you saw the pics? There are a few that have that coloration.

 

[aquanewbie72]

Like this one: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=9577&cat=554

 

[bosk1]

That is truly an amazing looking fish!

 

[rich311k]

http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/loricari/hypancis/1024_F.PHP

 

[aquanewbie72]

hmmmm... 6" long and doesn't get along with Corys. PRETTY but not good for my current set-up. Maybe someday when I upgrade......

 

[Purrbox]

I've heard that Bulldog Plecos and Rubberlip Plecos are really good algae eaters that stay in the 2" - 3" range. They'll probably be harder to get ahold of than the Bristlenose Plecos though.

 

[krap101]

if you have a petco nearby thats almost a guarenteed clown pleco/bristlenose, from what ive seen. but the petco and petsmart around here have been deteriorating, fishwise

 

[Lonewolfblue]

I was at the Petco here recently, and absolutely no Plecos.

 

[bosk1]

if you have a petco nearby thats almost a guarenteed clown pleco/bristlenose, from what ive seen. but the petco and petsmart around here have been deteriorating, fishwise

The one by me has had lots of rubberlip plecos, but that's about it.