They do not eat algae and will thrive on meaty meals like brine shrimp and bloodworms. Pleco Water and Temperature Parameters. The discus fish is among the few aquarium fish that needs similar conditions. Plecos bring unique characteristics to an aquarium. ... pit-bull and clown plecos, as they grow smaller than a lot of their counterparts. AquariumNexus.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Your email address will not be published. They are generally slow-growers in captivity. There are also small pleco fish breeds that will complement a small set up, and they include: The Bristlenose pleco has an average size of 3-5 inches, and it is coveted since it keeps algal growth to a minimum. They come from soft, neutral waters in the rivers of Venezuela and Columbia. The clown pleco, or Panaque maccus, is a pleco that many people say is useless because it only eats on driftwood, by many people say that it is a great algae eater, which it is. Driftwood will also provide some nutrients to the fish. The rubber lip pleco is distinguishable by the spots on its head, and it will not grow past 4.5 inches. The coloration on the fish can change depending on the substrate. Updated May 14, 2020 Author: Mike - FishLore Admin Social Media: The Common Pleco or Plecostomus can be a nice fish for the appropriate tank. The zebra pleco grows to 3-4 inches. Towards many fish they are very peaceful and will stay on the bottom or sides of the tank, but if there is more then one male, or even more then one female, the dominant fish will drive the intruder outside of the dominant fishes territory. It is usually referred to as Pleco because of the superstition that if … The water quality in your tank can be quickly compromised if it has an ineffective filter. It has a wider head, and is much shorter, fatter and flatter than the Common Pleco.. This species is also predominantly carnivorous and vegetables will rarely be taken by the fish. Stable pH is the most important thing, even if it's a little low. Decorations will provide surfaces for algae to grow on, which will, in turn, provide food for your clown pleco. The fish are energetic foragers, so you should use a soft mud or fine gravel substrate. Its color ranges between black to pale grey with greenish and golden shades. It thrives in warm waters that are saturated with oxygen. Bristlenose Pleco. Wild populations of the zebra pleco live in Brazil’s river Xingu. The round mouth and elongated lips of the Bristlenose pleco make it a great algae-eater. If you have any questions feel free to contact me or leave a comment below. Clown plecos appreciate driftwood in their tank, as they snack and hide in it. Your email address will not be published. I need to reach a PH of 6.8 for my stock, GH is kinda ok for them since neons and corydoras enjoy soft water, but I think my KH is very low. Keeping the zebra pleco in a community tank is challenging because of the kind of environment it demands. ... Change 20-25% of the tank’s water every week, and use a large tank to promote more stable water parameters. To tell the males from females it is very difficult, but the males usually have some more 'whiskers' around the mouth and face region. A TDS meter can tell you how pure the water is. Simply tack on an additional 10 gallons for each new clown pleco you want to keep! Use driftwood, stones, and other decorations to provide other hiding areas if your tank has gravel. Unlike other types of plecos, the Zebra Pleco needs exceptionally high water temperatures in order to stay healthy and live a long and fulfilling life. The Pitbull pleco will only grow to 1.5-2 inches, but it will actively clean up your tank. When kept under appropriate conditions, the clown pleco can live for 10-12 years. Required fields are marked *, Fish keeping and aquariums has been my hobby for almost 20 years. Other popular ones include sailfin pleco, Bristlenose pleco, and suckermouth pleco. The clown pleco grows to 3-4 inches in the aquarium. You can add rubber lip plecos to community tanks if you have an algae problem. Purchase an aquarium thermometer and water test kit to ensure that the following parameters are stable at all times. The common pleco is the most available one in pet stores. Give them sinking wafers and pellets and chopped vegetables like zucchini, spinach, and peas. Tank Mates : It is very compatible with lots of fish, just not those that will eat it. The rubber pleco, on the other hand, can grow to seven inches. Gold Nugget Pleco. The clown pleco is peaceful and can survive in a community aquarium so far as there are no aggressive and bigger fishes around to gobble it up. If you want to keep plecos, it is a good idea to determine which ones you will buy because they vary in size. Change 20-25% of the tank’s water every week, and use a large tank to promote more stable water parameters. ... Our pleco seems “Happy”, never been sick and has out-lived 5 goldfish & a Chinese Mystery Snail, amazingly! Alternatively, mix DI or RO water with tap water to create a blend that matches the water parameters you want. Its black body features orange or yellow bands and pronounced dorsal and pectoral fins. You can also give them algae wafers, flakes, spinach, spirulina, lettuce, and other veggies. Lifespan : approximately 10 years, can live longer, Origin / Habitat : Venezuela and Columbia, Temperament / Behavior : Peaceful towards other species, males are territorial towards other males, Breeding : Very difficult to breed the clown pleco in the home aquarium. Water Parameters. The fish likes oxygen-rich waters and pristine water conditions. This page may contain affiliate links, which will earn us a commission. Privacy Policy | SiteMap | Aquarium Dictionary | Affiliate Disclosure | Contact Us. Filtration, Aeration and Lighting Diet / Fish Food : Mainly a wood eater, but the clown pleco will eat many other things as well like yams, cucumbers. Males clown plecos have however been shown to fight for territories. It is commonly confused with rubber plecos, and some pet stores even sell one as the other. You can keep this pleco with common plants like hornwort. They’re not picky about water hardness, and prefer neutral conditions with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5. They are a bottom-dwelling species, and they will not bother their tankmates. Please always ask a veterinarian for help regarding your pets. The fish will be on the constant lookout for food, and they are prolific poopers as a result. The intent of this article is to provide an overview of angelfish care needs and behaviors so you stand a better chance of succeeding with this unique fish. The most crucial element of a Bristlenose pleco tank is the filtration system. They will feed off any algae on the glass, plants, and decorations. In fact, it’s more than a hobby, because I’ve spent countless hours doing research on different fish species. Unlike other plecos, the zebra pleco takes protein-rich foods. Clown Plecostomus (Panaqolus maccus) Sailfin Plecostomus (Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps) ... As for the parameters you should aim to keep the water temperature between 72°F and 86°F, with pH levels between 6.5-7.5. They come from soft, neutral waters in the rivers of Venezuela and Columbia. The primary diet is driftwood, but they need to supplement their diet with vegetation, so adding algae wafers, and fresh veggies like cucumber, lettuce, etc. Another thing to note with the zebra pleco is that it thrives in high temperatures of 86-88ºF. One Pitbull pleco can be kept in a 20-gallon, but they thrive best in community tanks. The minimum tank size for a clown pleco is 20 gallons, and for each additional clown pleco, try to have an extra 10 gallons just so there is enough room for each fish to have it's own territory. Looking good as is! The Clown Pleco is one of the many dwarf pleco species which only gets to 3.5 to 4 inches (8.75 - 10cm) and is able to live happily in a wide range of water parameters, even the wild ones are very durable. Even though clown plecos are hardy fish, you should always work hard to maintain the recommended water parameters. They will be suitable for almost all fish tanks, except for African cichlid tanks, or any fish tank that has fish big enough to eat them. They will hang out on the side of the tank but mostly the bottom of the tank, where algae, and primarily driftwood is located. If you plan on keeping multiple clown plecos in the same aquarium you’ll need to increase this. These clown plecos are very difficult to breed, they require lots of work to have them spawn and then to raise the fry is a task on its own. You can keep one rubber lip pleco in a 20-gallon tank and move them into a larger container once they grow bigger. Water temperature: 72°F to 86°F; pH levels: 5.0 to 7.6 (somewhere in the middle is ideal) Water hardness: 6 to 10 dKH As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. You can keep one male and several females to avoid aggression between the males. The Pitbull pleco can sink underneath sand when threatened, only leaving their eyes above the surface. A 50-gallon aquarium will be ideal for the fish and several tankmates. Commons prefer warm water from 72 to 86°F, so you may not need a heater in your aquarium or outdoor pond. The pleco can be seen resting under shaded areas during the day, and it, therefore, thrives in a planted tank. There is a certain week in the spring that you will have to drain the water in the tank to about 30-50 percent, then refill with pure rain water (or RO water), it has to be filtered really well if you live in the city, you will have to do that a few times in that week for them to trigger something to spawn, which can be a hassle unless you have lots of time on your hands. The plecos will need additional foods even as they eat the algae in your aquarium. Wherever you get rodi water, just make sure the filters are changed regularly. My tap water is PH 7 (sometimes 7.2), KH 1 and GH 3 and I still don’t know for sure how to deal with water parameters after cycling is finished. Plecostomus - Pleco Fish. You can keep clown plecos with similarly-sized and peaceful fish like minnows, cory catfish, dwarf gourami, and ember tetra. But if you are curious then they need a pH level between 5.5 – 8 and a temperature between 64 – 84°F. To ensure that your clown pleco is well-fed, keep many ornaments in your tank where algae can grow on. To keep your Snowball Pleco healthy, recreate these water conditions as closely as possible. AquariumNexus.com does not intend to provide any kind of veterinary suggestion. They will consume much more algae than shrimps or snails, and their small size makes them ideal alternatives to the common pleco. Give them algae wafers and vegetables like cucumbers, lettuce, and peas. The zebra pleco grows to 3-4 inches. Clown plecos are peaceful inhabitants of a community tank. Their bodies can be grey, olive, brown, or black with yellow or white spots. Hey, I'm Fabian, chief editor at Aquarium Nexus. At the bottom of this Amazon river Tributary are cracks, caves, and burrows where the fish likes to hide. I really enjoy the aquarium hobby and love sharing my experience with others. The Gold Nugget is a bigger cousin to the clown pleco as this fish can reach a length of up to 10 inches. Aside from that, Zebra Plecos are not picky about other water parameters. The Bristlenose Catfish is one of the smallest aquarium catfish, and will grow up to an average of 3-5 inches. Some can reach a mere two inches while others grow to over 15 inches. You will need at least 20 gallons to keep the clown pleco and an additional 10 gallons for any other clown pleco that you add. The clown pleco grows to 3-4 inches in the aquarium. You can use a sponge filter and a hang-on-back model, although canister filters work best in large aquariums. It is quite timid, and it will retreat to caves during the day. You’ll find a general profile as well as more specific facts and information on important issues such as ideal water parameters… It is shorter and fatter when compared to the common pleco, and its flat body is lined with bony plates for protection. The rubber lip pleco is an ideal fish if you want an algae-eater that will not outgrow your aquarium. They have a flattened body covered in bony plates, and as they reach maturity, they sprout tentacle like branches from their head. It will scavenge at night, and you should provide meaty foods as treats. You will need to include a lot of shelters at the bottom of your tank in the form of caves, stones, snags, and roots. Tank Region : Mainly the bottom or side of the tank, Gender : It is very hard to determine the gender, © FishLore.com - providing tropical fish tank and aquarium information for freshwater fish and saltwater fish keepers.About FishLore | Endlers livebearers are hardy fish so they’re going to be just fine in the water parameters that your betta needs. Read more…. A soft mud substrate is ideal because it will not injure their bodies. Its black body features orange or yellow bands and pronounced dorsal and pectoral fins. The Clown Pleco is one of the many dwarf pleco species which only gets to 3.5 to 4 inches (8.75 - 10cm) and is able to live happily in a wide range of water parameters, even the wild ones are very durable. The content of this website is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice. You will need at least 30 gallons to keep the Bristlenose pleco in a suitable setup. Most people think of the common pleco when considering this species, but they are smaller fish that will also clean your tank. You will need at least 20 gallons to keep one of these plecos, but you should invest in a larger aquarium to keep them comfortable.