I have a young Bristlenose in my 20 gallon long, I’m posting this before I see the video, but I am gonna watch as I’m curious of the many types and I’m showing love and a like!
So I'm a bit of a pleco nut and can probably answer most if not all of your questions It is worth noting that most plecos aren't algae eaters. most are the shape they are with a suckermouth to stop themselves being blown by large current or better get at certain foods. most are omnivores, carnivores or "wood eating" (panaquolus and panaque) which use the wood to aid digestion if i remember correctly. very few are algae eaters. Most larger species such as commons don't really bother with algae when they get older since it doesn't really contain enough nutrients to support them. the common pleco: Hypostomus plecostomus (High-pos-toe-mus plec-os-toe-mas) is not a species that is in the hobby. the name "common pleco" ususally refers to a pterygoplichthys species - usually pardilis but sometimes a couple others. sailfin plecos (pterygoplichthys gibbiceps) are also in this genus.
What is a pleco?? so suckermouth catfish are from the family loricariidae. - within loricariidae there are 3 main sub families (+ a few much smaller sub families, most are not in the hobby though). Hypostominae are generally the fish refered to as "plecos" loricariinae are generally the fish referred to as "whiptails" Hypoptopmatinae are generally the fish reffered to as "oto type catfish" the only other notable one is Rhinlepidae which only has a couple species that are in the hobby, these are like "plecos" but slightly different The L number system is in place so that plecos are discovered and brought into the hobby faster than they can be scientifically described making sure they have a definitive name that everyone can name them by. a fish may have 2 L numbers if they look very different as juveniles than they do to adults and originally the importers didn't realise they were the same species. multiple L numbers can also refer to different type localites and variations within 1 species, as is the case with the golden nugget pleco. with L177 having thicker seams on the dorsal and caudal fin and larger spotting when younger compared to the other varieties. This also happens with LDA numbers - a system made by a different exporter around the same time Scientific names are just like normal scientific names, its just sometimes the fish is already so well known as its L number that they just name it the genus name and the L number in quotation marks (or maybe speech marks, cant remember off the top of my head) common names are extremely variable and should be used sparingly tbh. with a lot of catfish (not just plecos) common names can sometimes refer to numerous species, not be very specific and sometimes for rarer species that may not have common names aquatics shops make them up so theyre more likely to sell them. overall common names are very unreliable a lot of the time so an L number or scientific name is normally more appropriate unless its a very well known and common species. Gold nugget plecos are NOT suitable for your tank - theyre one of the most misunderstood and miskept species of pleco. Heres a quick caresheet I wrote on them: Gold Nugget Pleco (Baryancistrus xanthellus) Care Sheet: Gold nuggets are a beautiful species from the Rio Xingu and Rio Iriri. All of 4 types of gold nugget are all the same species, baryancistrus xanthellus, just different L numbers werer assigned to different localities based on coloration Temperature: 82-90f (27-32C) (average temp in xingu is 30C) Adult size: approx 30cm (12inch) Tank size: 6ft long (180cm) with a sensible width, height doesn't matter as much flow rate: very fast, with a lot of surface movement to oxygenate the water as much as possible, much more than at standard temps becasue water holds less dissolved oxygen at higher temperatures Diet: quite picky, needs a constant source of biofilm on large rocks as well as courgette, sweet potato, high quality pellet foods etc. Water hardness: softwater species, so should be kept in softwater for the basic reason that sofwater fish kept in hardwater reduces life expectancy due to mineral build ups occuring on their organs. hardwater fish kept in softwater also reduces life epectancy due to mineral defficiencies. so isnt suitable to be kept with hardwater species. especially not rift lake cichlids. Colouration: when juvenile often has large spots and often a yellow margine on the dorsal and caudal fin, this can range based on locality though. However, when fully adult the spots are smaller and the yellow margines on the dorsal and caudal fin disappear. base colouration can range from black to olive green, again depending on locality. Substrate: Sand Tank mates: nothing boisterous or anyhting that will easily outcompete them for food NOT a "cleaner fish" for the standard community aquarium oh and I would never pick out a pleco as an algae cleaner generally any way. most have such a high bioload that they produce more ammonia, which is converted to more nitrate whech grows more algae. if I get algae I remove it by hand - 95% of the time a getting a biologcal control for the algae such as a pleco isn't the best way forwards. I only own my plecos because i love plecos and think theyre very interesting and make for a nice breeding projecy. algae means 1 of 3 things, lights are on too long or water changes aren't being done enough or nutrient imbalance (or a couple other things actually). 50% weekly is a good general guidline, although more may be required for the high stock level. I hope this answers all your questions on "plecos" and hopefully everyone reading this has learnt something new! if anyone has any other questions don't be afraid to ask
Wow you really know your pleco's! You really cleared a lot up for me...I actually wish I saw this two days earlier because I have a gold nugget in quarantine😅. I now know he won't be the solution to my problems, but I'll still keep him and try to meet his needs as best as possible. So those mouths are more of a grip than algae scrappers...so interesting!
Bristlenose plecos are the best at eating algae in my experience. You'll probably need to grow them out in another tank so that way their outer shell can harden and they can get big enough to not be eaten. They are aggressive with other plecos if they don't grow up together
I bought a Mega Clown Pleco L340, he actually made his own cave, dug under a Lava Rock and never saw him again. I throw him pieces of Algae wafers by the cave and dont even realize when he drags them in 🤦♂️🤣 I just bought a tiny Bristlenose Pleco now, heard they are a bit more active and a bit less shy. Let's see lol
Personally for your tank I would get a giant common pleco. They definitely eat algae and would not be picked on. I have a 5.5" Green phantom. He is very shy and stays in his pipe for most of the day despite being the largest fish in the tank. He likes a more varied diet. From my experience the commons are less skittish and feed around the clock. Your tank is perfect for a giant. You could actually enjoy and properly house one of the most abused and underrated fish in the hobby.
Ron DeCaro the commons are good when young but by time they’re big enough for his tank here, they’re no longer a reliable algae eater and turn to more protein based diet.
I had a few plecos including a L014 (sunburst), L091 I think it was I have it written down so I could reference it if needed a royal pleco, then a bunch of common plecos.
The big problem I see is the small ones are great for algae consumption. But they will just probably keep getting eaten. The big ones tend to lose their appetite for algae as they get bigger so it looks like another flag tail would probably be the best solution.
If you want a more appropriate word for all of the “plecos” you’re looking for the word loricariidaes which includes all of the armored catfish. Also, if you wanted a decent sized L083 gibbicep for free I have one you can have. It is roughly around 7-8” right now and super healthy. I’ve had it for roughly 2-3 years and it’s always been a great fish but I’ve fallen down the rabbit hole of breeding fish and I can’t see myself breeding L083s. I’m in RI so it’s about a 3-4 hour drive from NJ but the offer is there
Call it Bob as I have called my sucker mouth fish Bob since I dated a guy that every time he walked by a mirror he would admire himself. He asked me why I named him Bob when he was ugly so I told him he had a great personality. I was 16 then and I am 66 now but still call all my sucker mouths Bob. It just stuck with me.
I have two common plecos in my 75 gallon cichlid tank . I don't have an algae problem. One night I spotted the two plecos fighting. Now, they stay on their own sides of the tank.
Ive had a few different plain jane common Plecos, the one I have now I’ve had for about eight years, it’s roughly 14” long… out of all my fish it’s definitely the one I’d be most upset about losing. It’s pretty smart and will totally interact with you in its own little way. It likes to watch tv and it’s favorite show is Yellowstone…. Haha jk about that part. What ended up working for you? Beautiful tank and fish btw.
For a tank of that size I would recommend trying to find a large common pleco. Probably one that someone has already gotten rid of pid because of it's just gotten too big for their tank.
Man, I’m so glad somebody agrees with me about pleco prices! I try to get something decent and it’s $60. Btw, saw the gephyrus, I had to sell my old one since my istlanus took the tank up while breeding. They are an extreme investment, I bought mine at $20 at 1 inch, can only imagine how painful of a time you had growing out a 7-8” specimen. I would recommend just a common pleco for you, I do Chinese algae eaters for my growouts since they have the aggression needed for cichlids
Thanks, yes the gephyrus is 3 years in the making...the early days were the toughest because it was so sensitive; loose a rank in the hierarchy: stops eating, rescape tank: stops eating, add a new fish: stops eating. Now that's its bigger is not a sensitive and he's one of my favorite fish now! Yes a common pleco may be the best bet in my case, I'll probably go for an albino
@@dwsdarius when they're young, you're glad u didn't grab a colony, but when they're older, u kick urself because u didn't lol. I shared that same pain, but once she grew to an alpha, he stayed until the mated pair whooped his ass. Since ur ornatum is out more, maybe u should do a species spotlight on the gorgeous male u have. The more people that breed them, the better it is for the environment. I can send u vids of my old one if I have any to help
Red tail cactus is more of a scavenger than an algae grazer. IMO from keeping various loricariidaes over the years, the L200 Hi-fin Green Phantom (there are 2 variants, its the Hi-fin which is best) is great at algae grazing plus it comes out during daytime hours, very active and not aggressive. My one topped out at around 6-7 inches. Research on diet is key, I had a Royal before and had to rehome home him as he was a sawdust machine. My Sunshine loved his meaty foods the most. Can't wait to see what you choose : )
The fish You show at 5:09 is named "Ancistrus spec" oder back in the days called "Ancistrus dolichopterus". It will ONLY eat algees when it is young. This big one which You call the one and only real Pleco eats algees all life. And it will be not eaten by Geophagus when it (the Pleco) is adult.
Hello, I have an identical tank to yours in my living room surrounded by huge windows, what I do every four months is remove all the decoration and rinse it with pressurized water,this way I solve the problem for another four months. I am looky to have full access to clean my tank walls. I bought this tank from the same seller as you, thank you for your advice. Definitely better than any pleco heee have a good day.
I recommend You the "JBL Blanki" for cleaning the windows of Your fish-tanks. It will not scratch glass. You can also buy it as a "set" with a long grip. If it is not available in Your country, You may search for any simulary produkt. The material, which cleans the glass, is stainless steel mesh.
I'm with you on this bro! Royal plecos are awesome but 90-200 bucks here in Texas, and the a poop machines. Only plecos I have ever owned have came with a fish tank when I bought it second hand.
Jack Dempsey that’s really expensive for royals I usually see 2 inch juveniles for about 50 in the pet stores and have even seen them online for less than 40
DWSDARIUS FISH TANKS I highly suggest the royals they are the most attractive of the big plecos and get a large size that makes them impossible to be eaten and the prices he is listing he’s seen down there is a lot higher than I’ve seen in this region of the country. I have a medium sized Royal in my 125 and I never see any algae at all in that tank not even on the glass.
Common Plecos can reach well over 12-inches. Meanwhile, some of the larger species can scratch acrylic. ... Perhaps you might try moving you're Flagtail back to this tank and adopting a large Common Pleco for your new plywood tank. You may be able to find one for free if you check with pet stores and rescues, since so many people get them as babies and can't house them as adults.
I believe the more appropriate term for the plecos would be Loricariids which is what the L in an L-number means. I think Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps would do great if I have that size of tank. They grow to a considerable size as well,big enough that thet won't be bothered by other fish. Gold Spots might also do well since they still get large but not that large. Also,some of those Loricariids shown in the slideshow are carnivores or omnivores that prefer meat over plants.
I have owned a golden nugget.. But hardly ever saw it.. Eventually drifted away from plecos and now I'm just happy with the flag tail keeping the tank clean.. But I feel the L024 and L025 would look really amazing in your tank
I have a green phantom pleco had a blue but it passed.. The blue one seemed so cool but then took home it seemed more black or grey then blue and died few days later. I have a green hes a beast mad healthy most active pleco i have he "bumper cars" his food finders (Cory cats) out of his way to food hes pushing 4in. You will have to buy a grown or grow a pleco out for it to survive in ur 350 though man...
Yes the green phantoms are so beautiful...I put my male bristle nose in the tank and so far he's doing well, that gives me time to look for another one that's a good size
I would get the common pleco. They are cheap and they do a good job. You should also consider getting some Nerite snails though i'm not sure if your cichlids will eat them. Those snails are extremely effective in getting rid of algae
White Knight nerite snails will get eaten instantly, and if they don’t, once they’re comfortable in the tank they lay really annoying white eggs on the glass and decor of the tank and these eggs only hatch in brackish water and are incredibly difficult to remove from the decor.
I like the L number system for same reason where so much confusion occurs with the overlapping common names and scientific names too hard to remember besides the popular genuses
I live down in florida but have roughly 30+ plecos all diff kinda an most of them are great at cleaning hard to say which one is the best but i have some marbled gibbiceps that get big an common to find an they do great green an blue phantoms are dope fish great color but they dont get really that big my biggest is pushing 7”. Albino plecos i always see them on the glass an all my plecos hide but for most part their all out all day they stay jn the shadows some times but i have 3 blue eyed red fins an they get pretty big their about 5”-7” now an they clean the rocks all day but every single one loves their wood an any time i throw food in the all immediately hit the floor an wait for the food to get down there an start sucking it all up
I just... I can't explain. But i had one and he mysteriously disappeared into thin air. Im serious. Its a mystery. So now its gonna take a minute to get the perfect algae eater. Maybe something else.
Get a regular common pleco. They do the best job when it comes to algae. They are cheap and you can get them anywhere. You should start off with one that's is no smaller than 6 inches so your larger fish won't mess with it. Yes the common pleco can get large. But your tank is well equipped for it. They are not as messy as people make them out to be. Trust me, if you don't want to keep manually scrubbing your tank then pick one up. You can thank me later.
Thanks, yes based on my experience common plecos do the most work when it comes to eating algae...however they replace the algae will string poo everywhere! I ended up catching my big male bristle nose and I'll see how he fairs
@@dwsdarius There will be a lot of crap from the pleco at first because you have a lot of algae. Once the algae is gone or managed the crap coming from the pleco will be much less. You have a ton of large cichlids that will eat the majority of food you place in the tank. Just my experience with them for more than 20 years. Good luck.
Those scratches look pretty bad, you can't avoid minor ones. I have many, but after a decade they don't look anywhere like yours. I have a 419 US gallon. You just got to take it slower,use appropriate acrylic cleaning pads and make sure you arent getting sand in the pads.
There is a fish way better than any pleco for algae removal. It never stops cleaning. An absolute tank algae cleaning machine. The Sturisoma (Royal Whiptail Catfish). Get a few in a tank that size & never have algae in your tank anywhere, ever again. You see them all the time too, unlike nocturnal plecos.
from what I understand the L numbers are for places that are not scientifically identified. They don't lose the number though when they become scientifically identified but most aren't. Common names are just normalized with all fish in the hobby. Think green terror which could be 2-3 different fish... there are tons of similar fish that we just label with the same name to make things easier or to make it sell better.. It's not a perfect system but it is what it is.
DANKdaHERBALIST I have seen the albino common plecos few times they’re very hard to distinguish from females of the more popular albino bristlenose. You are correct tho they live a very very long time and once mature they are no longer a reliable algae eater and instead behave more like a typical catfish.
DANKdaHERBALIST I saw a 15” standard common pleco at the pet store once & it was absolutely massive. Very impressive. I’ve only seen the albino ones as babies. Unfortunately, like many popular algae eaters, they become less reliable when they reach maturity, and increasingly turn to a more protein based carnivorous diet, like other catfish. And they produce a lot of waste that might just increase the algae growth long term.
Your tank needs a panaque family pleco they get large and very bulky, hard as a rock, very large heads to avoid being eaten. Popular species range in max size from just over a foot (common royals or watermelons) to over 2 feet (titan panaque)... they are an avid wood eater and will clear out all that algae on your driftwood for sure and won’t be able to be eaten by your other fish. I have a common royal and a rhino/alligator/chocolate pleco in my 125 and I never ever get algae not even on the glass.
DWSDARIUS FISH TANKS such a beautiful genus of fish for sure! Their appetite for driftwood has evolved them extremely strong teeth and mouths compared to other plecos but this also allows them to effectively graze on even the most stubborn algae.
i say we call all "plecos" a part of their sientific name and their color or pattern. Here in mexico we do that for most species, for example: hypostomus plecostomus "pleco", bristle nose pleco "ancistrus", clown pleco "clown pekoltia", leopard frog pleco "leopard frog pekoltia", zebra pleco "zebra hypancistrus". And things like that, what do you think?. I mean, i think it is great because that way you wont get the wrong catfish, if you want a starlight ancistrus for example, with the current system you culd get a "starlight pleco" that is not an ancistrus, thus being the wrong size or even worse the wrong parameters and diet wich could kill the fish, on the other hand with this system you would not search for a "starlight pleco" but rather a starlight ancistrus thus making no mistake when buying.
That makes a lot of sense, it sounds like that method would be easier to remember too pair with each fish vs trying to remember fish based on their L number
I have a Gold Nugget Pleco (check my channel for a couple videos of it). I also have one trick that brings him out no matter what time of day it is! Not sure on the L number but it sure is a beautiful fish.
Its a 200+ gallon bruh. Get the cheapest one, the Common Pleco. Hypostomus plecostomus. Not only will it clean the algae but it will NOT get eaten as it doesnt grow till 14 inches (as you mentioned in your slideshow) but it grows over 30 inches in the wild and 24 inches in captivity. Happy hunting
I have a young Bristlenose in my 20 gallon long, I’m posting this before I see the video, but I am gonna watch as I’m curious of the many types and I’m showing love and a like!
Bristle nose pleco's are the best
7:49 is it a pleco or a normal cat fish ? i have one and the shopkeeper said it wont grow big so i bought it ... i hope it doesnt get that big ...
I have a juvenile common pleco in 4 feet tank is it ok or should I upgrade when pleco grows bigger
So I'm a bit of a pleco nut and can probably answer most if not all of your questions
It is worth noting that most plecos aren't algae eaters. most are the shape they are with a suckermouth to stop themselves being blown by large current or better get at certain foods. most are omnivores, carnivores or "wood eating" (panaquolus and panaque) which use the wood to aid digestion if i remember correctly. very few are algae eaters. Most larger species such as commons don't really bother with algae when they get older since it doesn't really contain enough nutrients to support them.
the common pleco:
Hypostomus plecostomus (High-pos-toe-mus plec-os-toe-mas) is not a species that is in the hobby. the name "common pleco" ususally refers to a pterygoplichthys species - usually pardilis but sometimes a couple others. sailfin plecos (pterygoplichthys gibbiceps) are also in this genus.
What is a pleco??
so suckermouth catfish are from the family loricariidae. - within loricariidae there are 3 main sub families (+ a few much smaller sub families, most are not in the hobby though).
Hypostominae are generally the fish refered to as "plecos"
loricariinae are generally the fish referred to as "whiptails"
Hypoptopmatinae are generally the fish reffered to as "oto type catfish"
the only other notable one is Rhinlepidae which only has a couple species that are in the hobby, these are like "plecos" but slightly different
The L number system is in place so that plecos are discovered and brought into the hobby faster than they can be scientifically described making sure they have a definitive name that everyone can name them by. a fish may have 2 L numbers if they look very different as juveniles than they do to adults and originally the importers didn't realise they were the same species. multiple L numbers can also refer to different type localites and variations within 1 species, as is the case with the golden nugget pleco. with L177 having thicker seams on the dorsal and caudal fin and larger spotting when younger compared to the other varieties.
This also happens with LDA numbers - a system made by a different exporter around the same time
Scientific names are just like normal scientific names, its just sometimes the fish is already so well known as its L number that they just name it the genus name and the L number in quotation marks (or maybe speech marks, cant remember off the top of my head)
common names are extremely variable and should be used sparingly tbh. with a lot of catfish (not just plecos) common names can sometimes refer to numerous species, not be very specific and sometimes for rarer species that may not have common names aquatics shops make them up so theyre more likely to sell them. overall common names are very unreliable a lot of the time so an L number or scientific name is normally more appropriate unless its a very well known and common species.
Gold nugget plecos are NOT suitable for your tank - theyre one of the most misunderstood and miskept species of pleco.
Heres a quick caresheet I wrote on them:
Gold Nugget Pleco (Baryancistrus xanthellus) Care Sheet:
Gold nuggets are a beautiful species from the Rio Xingu and Rio Iriri.
All of 4 types of gold nugget are all the same species, baryancistrus xanthellus, just different L numbers werer assigned to different localities based on coloration
Temperature: 82-90f (27-32C) (average temp in xingu is 30C)
Adult size: approx 30cm (12inch)
Tank size: 6ft long (180cm) with a sensible width, height doesn't matter as much
flow rate:
very fast, with a lot of surface movement to oxygenate the water as much as possible, much more than at standard temps becasue water holds less dissolved oxygen at higher temperatures
Diet:
quite picky, needs a constant source of biofilm on large rocks as well as courgette, sweet potato, high quality pellet foods etc.
Water hardness:
softwater species, so should be kept in softwater for the basic reason that sofwater fish kept in hardwater reduces life expectancy due to mineral build ups occuring on their organs. hardwater fish kept in softwater also reduces life epectancy due to mineral defficiencies. so isnt suitable to be kept with hardwater species. especially not rift lake cichlids.
Colouration:
when juvenile often has large spots and often a yellow margine on the dorsal and caudal fin, this can range based on locality though. However, when fully adult the spots are smaller and the yellow margines on the dorsal and caudal fin disappear. base colouration can range from black to olive green, again depending on locality.
Substrate:
Sand
Tank mates:
nothing boisterous or anyhting that will easily outcompete them for food
NOT a "cleaner fish" for the standard community aquarium
oh and I would never pick out a pleco as an algae cleaner generally any way. most have such a high bioload that they produce more ammonia, which is converted to more nitrate whech grows more algae. if I get algae I remove it by hand - 95% of the time a getting a biologcal control for the algae such as a pleco isn't the best way forwards. I only own my plecos because i love plecos and think theyre very interesting and make for a nice breeding projecy.
algae means 1 of 3 things, lights are on too long or water changes aren't being done enough or nutrient imbalance (or a couple other things actually). 50% weekly is a good general guidline, although more may be required for the high stock level.
I hope this answers all your questions on "plecos" and hopefully everyone reading this has learnt something new! if anyone has any other questions don't be afraid to ask
Wow you really know your pleco's! You really cleared a lot up for me...I actually wish I saw this two days earlier because I have a gold nugget in quarantine😅. I now know he won't be the solution to my problems, but I'll still keep him and try to meet his needs as best as possible. So those mouths are more of a grip than algae scrappers...so interesting!
i have blue phantom in a 25 gallon is that ok?
Bristlenose plecos are the best at eating algae in my experience. You'll probably need to grow them out in another tank so that way their outer shell can harden and they can get big enough to not be eaten. They are aggressive with other plecos if they don't grow up together
Yes this is what I was asking for thank you!! 😊
I bought a Mega Clown Pleco L340, he actually made his own cave, dug under a Lava Rock and never saw him again. I throw him pieces of Algae wafers by the cave and dont even realize when he drags them in 🤦♂️🤣 I just bought a tiny Bristlenose Pleco now, heard they are a bit more active and a bit less shy. Let's see lol
So far Bristle nose pleco's are my favorite...I can see mine daily, unlike my other plecos
@@dwsdarius They are exactly what i always expected a Pleco to be! lmao
its all timing and age
1:45
Can you write the spelling of the fish you named ? I'm unable to understand
Personally for your tank I would get a giant common pleco. They definitely eat algae and would not be picked on. I have a 5.5" Green phantom. He is very shy and stays in his pipe for most of the day despite being the largest fish in the tank. He likes a more varied diet. From my experience the commons are less skittish and feed around the clock. Your tank is perfect for a giant. You could actually enjoy and properly house one of the most abused and underrated fish in the hobby.
Ron DeCaro the commons are good when young but by time they’re big enough for his tank here, they’re no longer a reliable algae eater and turn to more protein based diet.
Thank you, yes when it comes down to actually solving my algae issue I'd have the most confidence in a common pleco...maybe I'll look into a albino
@@dwsdarius What about another flag tail?
I have a 5 in green phantom and he is so territorial. He loves his zucchini but he will chase other fish away from his cave.
What is L numbers for calico pleco
Recently got myself a L066, most expensive fish in my tank and yeah, never see him 😂
Lol, thats what I don't want
😂😂😂. Dummy
I had a few plecos including a L014 (sunburst), L091 I think it was I have it written down so I could reference it if needed a royal pleco, then a bunch of common plecos.
L190 you had it I commented after seeing the sunburst.
The big problem I see is the small ones are great for algae consumption. But they will just probably keep getting eaten. The big ones tend to lose their appetite for algae as they get bigger so it looks like another flag tail would probably be the best solution.
Yes I noticed that too, the plecos 6" and under are the main full time algae eaters.
Dw where do you get your insanely high quality bass?
I shop around...they all where bought on ebay from different sellers.
If you want a more appropriate word for all of the “plecos” you’re looking for the word loricariidaes which includes all of the armored catfish. Also, if you wanted a decent sized L083 gibbicep for free I have one you can have. It is roughly around 7-8” right now and super healthy. I’ve had it for roughly 2-3 years and it’s always been a great fish but I’ve fallen down the rabbit hole of breeding fish and I can’t see myself breeding L083s. I’m in RI so it’s about a 3-4 hour drive from NJ but the offer is there
Thank you, I ended up catching the male bristle nose that was in my 210g and now I'll see how he does against the algae
@@dwsdarius has he been eaten by these huge fish?
@@dwsdarius him: plecos are overprice they can get to 30$
me a malaysian: hehe 2 ringgit go brrrr💪💪
anyways💗 from malaysia☺☺💗
@@dwsdarius him: plecos are overprice they can get to 30$
me a malaysian: hehe 2 ringgit go brrrr💪💪
anyways💗 from malaysia☺☺💗
I needed to use this vid to ID my fish, turns out he’s a rubber nose. Thanks for the upload and the info!
Call it Bob as I have called my sucker mouth fish Bob since I dated a guy that every time he walked by a mirror he would admire himself. He asked me why I named him Bob when he was ugly so I told him he had a great personality. I was 16 then and I am 66 now but still call all my sucker mouths Bob. It just stuck with me.
Check out the mango pleco L047 gets around 8 inches and mine loves eating algae off the walls and rocks
I have two common plecos in my 75 gallon cichlid tank . I don't have an algae problem. One night I spotted the two plecos fighting. Now, they stay on their own sides of the tank.
Yes the common plecos might be the best for the algae issue I have...but from my experince I don't know which is worst, the algae or the string poop!
@@dwsdarius ,I know,right?! Lol
Ive had a few different plain jane common Plecos, the one I have now I’ve had for about eight years, it’s roughly 14” long… out of all my fish it’s definitely the one I’d be most upset about losing. It’s pretty smart and will totally interact with you in its own little way. It likes to watch tv and it’s favorite show is Yellowstone…. Haha jk about that part.
What ended up working for you?
Beautiful tank and fish btw.
For a tank of that size I would recommend trying to find a large common pleco. Probably one that someone has already gotten rid of pid because of it's just gotten too big for their tank.
The alge in the corner is undefeated 😂
Man, I’m so glad somebody agrees with me about pleco prices! I try to get something decent and it’s $60. Btw, saw the gephyrus, I had to sell my old one since my istlanus took the tank up while breeding. They are an extreme investment, I bought mine at $20 at 1 inch, can only imagine how painful of a time you had growing out a 7-8” specimen. I would recommend just a common pleco for you, I do Chinese algae eaters for my growouts since they have the aggression needed for cichlids
Thanks, yes the gephyrus is 3 years in the making...the early days were the toughest because it was so sensitive; loose a rank in the hierarchy: stops eating, rescape tank: stops eating, add a new fish: stops eating. Now that's its bigger is not a sensitive and he's one of my favorite fish now! Yes a common pleco may be the best bet in my case, I'll probably go for an albino
@@dwsdarius when they're young, you're glad u didn't grab a colony, but when they're older, u kick urself because u didn't lol. I shared that same pain, but once she grew to an alpha, he stayed until the mated pair whooped his ass. Since ur ornatum is out more, maybe u should do a species spotlight on the gorgeous male u have. The more people that breed them, the better it is for the environment. I can send u vids of my old one if I have any to help
My fav. plecos are the sailfin plecos. Mine used to come up to the top and get his belly rubbed. Had issues with the commen plecos.
Yes the sailfins look really cool and I hear they are one of the best for algae control
Red tail cactus is more of a scavenger than an algae grazer. IMO from keeping various loricariidaes over the years, the L200 Hi-fin Green Phantom (there are 2 variants, its the Hi-fin which is best) is great at algae grazing plus it comes out during daytime hours, very active and not aggressive. My one topped out at around 6-7 inches. Research on diet is key, I had a Royal before and had to rehome home him as he was a sawdust machine. My Sunshine loved his meaty foods the most. Can't wait to see what you choose : )
Thanks for the info, I love the look of the green phantom!
Bristle-nose pleco.... peaceful........ that was not my experience.... but so cool!!!
The fish You show at 5:09 is named "Ancistrus spec" oder back in the days called "Ancistrus dolichopterus". It will ONLY eat algees when it is young. This big one which You call the one and only real Pleco eats algees all life. And it will be not eaten by Geophagus when it (the Pleco) is adult.
Hello, I have an identical tank to yours in my living room surrounded by huge windows, what I do every four months is remove all the decoration and rinse it with pressurized water,this way I solve the problem for another four months. I am looky to have full access to clean my tank walls. I bought this tank from the same seller as you, thank you for your advice. Definitely better than any pleco heee have a good day.
Thank you, thats not a bad idea...I have a pressure washer so I'll see how well he removes algae without destroying my wood too much
I recommend You the "JBL Blanki" for cleaning the windows of Your fish-tanks. It will not scratch glass. You can also buy it as a "set" with a long grip. If it is not available in Your country, You may search for any simulary produkt. The material, which cleans the glass, is stainless steel mesh.
I bought a common pleco well i think he is a common baby 3" for 7$ at my fish store in Canada
My favorites, and 2 I’ve had in the past, are the Green Phantom L-200 and the Mango L-047
I'm with you on this bro! Royal plecos are awesome but 90-200 bucks here in Texas, and the a poop machines. Only plecos I have ever owned have came with a fish tank when I bought it second hand.
Jack Dempsey that’s really expensive for royals I usually see 2 inch juveniles for about 50 in the pet stores and have even seen them online for less than 40
Yes its crazy how much these fish can cost
DWSDARIUS FISH TANKS I highly suggest the royals they are the most attractive of the big plecos and get a large size that makes them impossible to be eaten and the prices he is listing he’s seen down there is a lot higher than I’ve seen in this region of the country. I have a medium sized Royal in my 125 and I never see any algae at all in that tank not even on the glass.
I have multiple types of plecos. Never paid over $20 for them
Common Plecos can reach well over 12-inches. Meanwhile, some of the larger species can scratch acrylic. ... Perhaps you might try moving you're Flagtail back to this tank and adopting a large Common Pleco for your new plywood tank. You may be able to find one for free if you check with pet stores and rescues, since so many people get them as babies and can't house them as adults.
Thanks, maybe I'll just go for another flagtail. I just don't like that string poop the large common plecos will leave all over the tank
I have a pleco I say his the second cheapest in my aquarium his price from the fish store it's 40 pesos in Philippines in dollars $ 0.80
I’m getting a golden nugget pleco tomorrow and I’m saddened by the pleco hate 😂
After keeping my green phantom I need to make an updated video, they are a lot more active in peaceful aquariums
I believe the more appropriate term for the plecos would be Loricariids which is what the L in an L-number means. I think Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps would do great if I have that size of tank. They grow to a considerable size as well,big enough that thet won't be bothered by other fish. Gold Spots might also do well since they still get large but not that large.
Also,some of those Loricariids shown in the slideshow are carnivores or omnivores that prefer meat over plants.
Thanks, yes I had my eye on the sailfin pleco, maybe an albino would be cool!
i like the size idea in video very good goes a bit fast but i rewind andnote the l nos of the little guys i like thx
I have owned a golden nugget.. But hardly ever saw it.. Eventually drifted away from plecos and now I'm just happy with the flag tail keeping the tank clean.. But I feel the L024 and L025 would look really amazing in your tank
Yes that definitely would look nice...I just need to find a good deal on one!
I have a green phantom pleco had a blue but it passed.. The blue one seemed so cool but then took home it seemed more black or grey then blue and died few days later. I have a green hes a beast mad healthy most active pleco i have he "bumper cars" his food finders (Cory cats) out of his way to food hes pushing 4in.
You will have to buy a grown or grow a pleco out for it to survive in ur 350 though man...
Yes the green phantoms are so beautiful...I put my male bristle nose in the tank and so far he's doing well, that gives me time to look for another one that's a good size
@@dwsdarius the rubberlips are really fast spastics cleaner they may work too
I have a high fin banded shark. They will eat every bit of algae in the tank. They get big so good for a predator tank.
Wow, $30~$100 for one!? That's insane! Its dirt cheap here in India. I got myself a 6in albino pleco for 120 Rupees. That's a little over $1.
Dang if all these types of plecos are real that’s so cool some of them look awesome
And the one at 10:03 looks crazy
Love those Plecos
I would get the common pleco. They are cheap and they do a good job. You should also consider getting some Nerite snails though i'm not sure if your cichlids will eat them. Those snails are extremely effective in getting rid of algae
White Knight nerite snails will get eaten instantly, and if they don’t, once they’re comfortable in the tank they lay really annoying white eggs on the glass and decor of the tank and these eggs only hatch in brackish water and are incredibly difficult to remove from the decor.
Also, common plecos are cheap and effective when young, but by time they’re big enough for this tank, they’re no longer a reliable algae eater
My red devil would eat them, he enjoys eating my current malaysian trumpet snails! I might go for a common pleco, no denying they do an amazing job
Do a Blue Phantom! Such a cool colour
I like the L number system for same reason where so much confusion occurs with the overlapping common names and scientific names too hard to remember besides the popular genuses
they not going to eat the algae they going to eat the food you feed the fish
Yes that seems to be the case often
I live down in florida but have roughly 30+ plecos all diff kinda an most of them are great at cleaning hard to say which one is the best but i have some marbled gibbiceps that get big an common to find an they do great green an blue phantoms are dope fish great color but they dont get really that big my biggest is pushing 7”. Albino plecos i always see them on the glass an all my plecos hide but for most part their all out all day they stay jn the shadows some times but i have 3 blue eyed red fins an they get pretty big their about 5”-7” now an they clean the rocks all day but every single one loves their wood an any time i throw food in the all immediately hit the floor an wait for the food to get down there an start sucking it all up
Nice! Yes I've been looking at the albino gibbiceps...not a bad option for me
I just... I can't explain. But i had one and he mysteriously disappeared into thin air. Im serious. Its a mystery. So now its gonna take a minute to get the perfect algae eater. Maybe something else.
Get a regular common pleco. They do the best job when it comes to algae. They are cheap and you can get them anywhere. You should start off with one that's is no smaller than 6 inches so your larger fish won't mess with it. Yes the common pleco can get large. But your tank is well equipped for it. They are not as messy as people make them out to be. Trust me, if you don't want to keep manually scrubbing your tank then pick one up. You can thank me later.
Thanks, yes based on my experience common plecos do the most work when it comes to eating algae...however they replace the algae will string poo everywhere! I ended up catching my big male bristle nose and I'll see how he fairs
@@dwsdarius There will be a lot of crap from the pleco at first because you have a lot of algae. Once the algae is gone or managed the crap coming from the pleco will be much less. You have a ton of large cichlids that will eat the majority of food you place in the tank. Just my experience with them for more than 20 years. Good luck.
I love my royal dull eye,and bristlenose
use a grade 1500 or more to get rid of scratches
Those scratches look pretty bad, you can't avoid minor ones. I have many, but after a decade they don't look anywhere like yours. I have a 419 US gallon. You just got to take it slower,use appropriate acrylic cleaning pads and make sure you arent getting sand in the pads.
green phantom looks nice .
Yes that green sticks out really well
100 types of pleco on the wall 100 kinds of pleco.
Model 118 take one down pass it around
There is a fish way better than any pleco for algae removal. It never stops cleaning. An absolute tank algae cleaning machine. The Sturisoma (Royal Whiptail Catfish). Get a few in a tank that size & never have algae in your tank anywhere, ever again. You see them all the time too, unlike nocturnal plecos.
from what I understand the L numbers are for places that are not scientifically identified. They don't lose the number though when they become scientifically identified but most aren't. Common names are just normalized with all fish in the hobby. Think green terror which could be 2-3 different fish... there are tons of similar fish that we just label with the same name to make things easier or to make it sell better.. It's not a perfect system but it is what it is.
They’re loricarid catfish I think, at least that’s the technical name.
A common albino pleco. They're inexpensive and look good. Happy hunting....
Love the idea never seen one! Heard they get lazy when big though?
DANKdaHERBALIST I have seen the albino common plecos few times they’re very hard to distinguish from females of the more popular albino bristlenose. You are correct tho they live a very very long time and once mature they are no longer a reliable algae eater and instead behave more like a typical catfish.
Yes they definitely don't look too bad and cost under $10
@@wolfmania10 I wish I could see one in person full grown
DANKdaHERBALIST I saw a 15” standard common pleco at the pet store once & it was absolutely massive. Very impressive. I’ve only seen the albino ones as babies. Unfortunately, like many popular algae eaters, they become less reliable when they reach maturity, and increasingly turn to a more protein based carnivorous diet, like other catfish. And they produce a lot of waste that might just increase the algae growth long term.
I captured the greenest and goldish Pleco on the banks in a Brazilian Jungle and he ate my warts off and killed my family. 😟
In a 300 gallon you can get about any type of pleco
Forgot, they don't hide all day.
I mean. A pleco would do it. Magnetic scrapers work too.
him:they are overprice plecos can get to 30$
me a Malaysian:2 ringgit go brrrr💪💪
anyways💗 from Malaysia
I just picked up a pleco today and cost me $10 plus tax but it’s where you get a pleco from
Your tank needs a panaque family pleco they get large and very bulky, hard as a rock, very large heads to avoid being eaten. Popular species range in max size from just over a foot (common royals or watermelons) to over 2 feet (titan panaque)... they are an avid wood eater and will clear out all that algae on your driftwood for sure and won’t be able to be eaten by your other fish. I have a common royal and a rhino/alligator/chocolate pleco in my 125 and I never ever get algae not even on the glass.
Also appearance wise they’re definitely the most attractive family of the larger pleco species
No denying that they are some of the best looking pleco's out there...I love the look of the royals
DWSDARIUS FISH TANKS such a beautiful genus of fish for sure! Their appetite for driftwood has evolved them extremely strong teeth and mouths compared to other plecos but this also allows them to effectively graze on even the most stubborn algae.
i say we call all "plecos" a part of their sientific name and their color or pattern. Here in mexico we do that for most species, for example: hypostomus plecostomus "pleco", bristle nose pleco "ancistrus", clown pleco "clown pekoltia", leopard frog pleco "leopard frog pekoltia", zebra pleco "zebra hypancistrus". And things like that, what do you think?. I mean, i think it is great because that way you wont get the wrong catfish, if you want a starlight ancistrus for example, with the current system you culd get a "starlight pleco" that is not an ancistrus, thus being the wrong size or even worse the wrong parameters and diet wich could kill the fish, on the other hand with this system you would not search for a "starlight pleco" but rather a starlight ancistrus thus making no mistake when buying.
That makes a lot of sense, it sounds like that method would be easier to remember too pair with each fish vs trying to remember fish based on their L number
In India you get pleco for 0.50 cents
I’m sorry I don’t want to hate but my pleco is always out and about!
Plecos are nice but I’m not a fan of the either but this was,awesome to view and learn from thx for sharing champ
Thank you!
This comment section is full of essays, holy shit
I have a Gold Nugget Pleco (check my channel for a couple videos of it). I also have one trick that brings him out no matter what time of day it is! Not sure on the L number but it sure is a beautiful fish.
Its a 200+ gallon bruh. Get the cheapest one, the Common Pleco. Hypostomus plecostomus. Not only will it clean the algae but it will NOT get eaten as it doesnt grow till 14 inches (as you mentioned in your slideshow) but it grows over 30 inches in the wild and 24 inches in captivity.
Happy hunting
Thanks, yes that may be my best bet for algae control
Gold nugget love alge i got one for my 75 and glass is clean
I’d say that they are plecos. 😂 better than sucker mouth
I just got my common pleco for 6.99
Lol me and my dad called them sucker cats 😭
A pleco in my county could be as cheap as $0.50
Wow, what country is this?
@@dwsdarius Malaysia
I think we should could call um pleco
Get the blue phantom
Red Bruno pleco
I believe that the Adonis is the biggest, coming in at almost 4ft
Hi I have a 9 inch pleco. I believe it’s a female.
ps gold nuggets dont eat algae in my expeince they like a meaty diet
My sailfin is perfect and I have had him for 10 years
👍👍👍
There armored catfish
Cactus pleco
Sailfin pleco
Certainly agree brisselnose can't find fish
$1 for one of them dam where I live your looking at 145$ for one😂
The L21 I was talking about
Purchase tube of Seachem PhosGuard instead..
I can't see myself get a pleco for my 350gallon. Let alone yours- there poo 💩 monsters...lol
Yes that string poop is the worst, I'm going to try to add plants that can compete with algae
Get the L069
It is spelled colOmbian zebra, not colUmnbian zebra.
Common pleco
Medusa pleco
Adonis pleco
Why waste so much time on the nonsense of the video on your tank when speed thru the actual plecos