Myth #1: “A pleco will clean your tank!”
Plecos are messy fish which produce a lot of waste
(and no, they don’t eat poop). They requre heavy filtration and lots of water changes. Having a pleco is NOT a substitute for regularly cleaning your tank, doing water changes and vacuuming your substrate to remove waste.
Can plecos bite humans?
Plecos are however
very unlikely to bite
. They will bite other plecos if they feel territorial and want to protect their eggs or fry but other than that, they won’t bite you or any other fish in your tank.
Can you touch a pleco fish?
What are plecos good for?
Benefits of the Plecostomus!
Sometimes called the “janitor fish” or “sucker fish” these helpful species can
help keep tanks clean as they are natural scavengers
. They are bottom-feeders and will eat uneaten food or other leftover matter that would otherwise cause harmful nitrates in the water.
Does pleco eat fish poop?
No, plecos won’t eat fish poop
. Despite being a popular cleaner fish, plecos don’t eat poop because fish poop is already processed and contains very few nutrients.
Is pleco good for aquarium?
Bristlenose plecos are a great addition to most aquariums
. These weird little guys only grow to be around 4in long, allowing them to fit into most medium-sized community aquariums. This makes them a valuable alternative to the very common “Sucker Fish” (Hypostomus Plecostomus) that grows to almost two feet long.
Will a big pleco eat a small pleco?
Plecos only usually eat other fish if their environment is incorrect and they are not getting enough to eat
. They are territorial and will attack other plecos and kill them if a second pleco is placed in the fish tank. They often eat carrion and feed on dead fish.
Can I hold my pleco?
PSA:
It’s ok to hold plecos out of the water
.
Are plecos friendly?
Plecos are popular aquarium fish for their
friendly nature toward other fish
and willingness to keep tank surfaces free of algae.
Why is my pleco floating?
it might be a quirky fish or it might be stress.
your nitrates are high
. do a water change to bring them down, and see if he keeps floating. i had a pleco that used to gulp air.
Why is my pleco attacking my goldfish?
Some plecos may become rather aggressive
when they grow to a larger size or encounter other fish
. Because of this, you will want to make sure that the species you are buying will be safe to place in the same tank as your goldfish.
How long does a pleco live?
Some are more carnivorous. Still others mainly eat wood fiber and the small crustaceans who live within the wood. How long do plecos live? A pleco’s life span depends on the species; on average, up to
10-15 years
when properly cared for.
Can a pleco live with a Betta?
Yes, plecos can live with bettas
. Even though bettas tend to be aggressive towards other fish, plecos won’t trigger their aggression. This is because plecos have a peaceful nature and dull coloration, so bettas don’t see them as a threat.
Is janitor fish edible?
Jonathan Armbruster, curator of fishes at Auburn University,
janitor fish are edible if they don’t contain high levels of mercury or other metals
. Though they’re not sold as a food fish, people in the areas of South America where they are native gut, grill them whole and eat them or use them in soup.
How do I keep my plecos happy?
What fish cleans the tank?
Suckermouthed catfish
like Common and Sailfin Plecos, Bristlenose and Otocinclus all graze algae and will “clean” the tank of it, but they do also need food in their own right if they are to grow, stay healthy and thrive.
Why does my pleco have long poop?
Long poop strings
can be a sign of internal parasites
. Loss of appetite can be another sign somethings up. That being said, plecos sometimes have long poop strings and it doesnt mean anything. Keep trying to feed the veggies.It will figure out its food soon enough.
Will a common pleco eat snails?
As I mentioned before, plecos will eat or munch on anything they can find.
Plecos will eat dead fish and snails too
. They will also eat decaying aquarium plans, and will munch on some plants.
Can I have 2 plecos in the same tank?
“No” to Multiple Plecos Together
When plecos reach maturity, they simply cannot get along with fellow plecos. They can be highly territorial around each other. Therefore, it can be extremely dangerous ever to house them together.
Can a pleco live alone?
Yes, bristlenose plecos can live alone
. Bristlenose plecos are solitary fish, so they don’t need tank mates to keep them company. They can live alone in the tank with no problems. Moreover, bristlenose plecos, especially males, are highly territorial towards each other.
How long can a pleco go without eating?
Bristlenose plecos can go
14 days
without food. These bottom-dwelling fish are very hardy and can survive quite long without eating anything. However, going that long without food can result in growth stunts, stress, and illnesses. Bristlenose plecos may starve because their owners don’t feed them.
Do plecos sleep upside down?
Many plecos fall asleep hanging upside down on a piece of driftwood
. Sometimes during their nap they let go and just fall down without waking up. So finding a pleco laying upside down is normal.
Do pleco catfish eat other fish?
Yes, a plecostomus will eat other fish
. However, plecos will only eat dead or dying fish that sink to the bottom of the tank – they won’t eat other healthy fish. If you want to stop your pleco from eating dead fish, make sure to feed it a high-quality diet regularly.
Can you put a pleco with Mollies?
Molly Fish
Usually, Mollies are very peaceful by nature, but if you keep them in very big groups, they could get angry. So,
if you plan to keep them together with plecos, that’s not a problem
. Only make sure there’s enough space for both species to live in harmony.
How do you grab a pleco?
How big will my pleco grow?
Pleco catfish (Plecostomus) can grow
up to 24 inches (60 cm) in size
. However, it takes a long period of time for them to grow this big. For such fish, you need special conditions, especially if you keep them in an aquarium.
How quickly do plecos grow?
Generally, bristlenose pleco fry tend to grow very slowly, staying under an inch in length during their first three months of life. After three months, they usually hit a growth spurt, growing an extra two or three inches until they reach six months of age.
