Newbie fish compatibility, stocking level questions

[Elizabeth Naime]

Introductions.... my husband and I have kept goldfish for several years
now. I've long been interested in having a non-goldfish tank, and it
looks like I will have it this spring!

I am thinking I can just take a few bio-wheels (we use Marineland
Emperor 400 filters mostly) and swap them into the new tank, and with
gradual stocking, avoid the new tank cycle altogether. Is this
realistic?

I'd like to know what kind of fish are compatible with common
plecostomus. I've admired these guys in fish stores for years and now
that I have my non-goldie tank, I am absolutely getting at least one.
Not sure, from what I've been able to read up about them so far, if I
should stick with just one; several sites suggest that they get along
with most other fish but not other plecos, but I have seen two to a tank
in large tanks in stores. The tank I'm claiming use of is a 120
gallon... but I do understand that plecos can get rather large.
"Eventually," one pet store employee confided, "they turn into
FishZilla."

Since I'm dead set on one or two of these fish, the rest of my community
will have to take that into account. Other fish I find intriguing and
beautiful are "glass fish" and "spotted dojos" (both pet store names; I
don't know their formal monikers). Are any of these going to get along?
And to the extent that you can guess a bit about what I like from those
three, any other suggestions for peaceful, compatible combinations? Some
more brightly colored fish and a mix of fish who are active at different
times of day would be a plus as well.

I'll probably install the pleco or plecos first -- and yes, I'm starting
small, I've really enjoyed watching the goldies and the koi in the pond
grow from not-much to, well, FishZilla of the carp variety. The Pleco is
non-negotiable. I would like to add others a few at a time and at
intervals, so there's plenty of time to plan...

All suggestions about peaceful fish communities, comparison of
environment needs like pH and temperature, and posts singing the praises
of your favorite fish will be gratefully read, though I warn you your
reponses may provoke further questions.


-----------------------------------------
Only know that there is no spork.

[Rick]

"Elizabeth Naime" > wrote in message
...
> Introductions.... my husband and I have kept goldfish for several years
> now. I've long been interested in having a non-goldfish tank, and it
> looks like I will have it this spring!
>
> I am thinking I can just take a few bio-wheels (we use Marineland
> Emperor 400 filters mostly) and swap them into the new tank, and with
> gradual stocking, avoid the new tank cycle altogether. Is this
> realistic?
>
> I'd like to know what kind of fish are compatible with common
> plecostomus. I've admired these guys in fish stores for years and now
> that I have my non-goldie tank, I am absolutely getting at least one.
> Not sure, from what I've been able to read up about them so far, if I
> should stick with just one; several sites suggest that they get along
> with most other fish but not other plecos, but I have seen two to a tank
> in large tanks in stores. The tank I'm claiming use of is a 120
> gallon... but I do understand that plecos can get rather large.
> "Eventually," one pet store employee confided, "they turn into
> FishZilla."
>
> Since I'm dead set on one or two of these fish, the rest of my community
> will have to take that into account. Other fish I find intriguing and
> beautiful are "glass fish" and "spotted dojos" (both pet store names; I
> don't know their formal monikers). Are any of these going to get along?
> And to the extent that you can guess a bit about what I like from those
> three, any other suggestions for peaceful, compatible combinations? Some
> more brightly colored fish and a mix of fish who are active at different
> times of day would be a plus as well.
>
> I'll probably install the pleco or plecos first -- and yes, I'm starting
> small, I've really enjoyed watching the goldies and the koi in the pond
> grow from not-much to, well, FishZilla of the carp variety. The Pleco is
> non-negotiable. I would like to add others a few at a time and at
> intervals, so there's plenty of time to plan...
>
> All suggestions about peaceful fish communities, comparison of
> environment needs like pH and temperature, and posts singing the praises
> of your favorite fish will be gratefully read, though I warn you your
> reponses may provoke further questions.
>
>
> -----------------------------------------
> Only know that there is no spork.


I have pleco's in a variety of tanks with everything from Cichlids to
livebearers and Rainbows. They get along with anything IMO. Yes they will
eventually get quite large however your tank is big enough to handle them.
My common Pleco in my 77g tank is kind of the King and puts the run to
anything that comes around when I add some zucchini to the tank. Remember
the most common cause of death in these fish in starvation. They need to be
fed just like the rest of the fish.

Rick

[blove]

i love plecos, i want a male and female albino bristle nose pleco cuz they
dont get that big and are pretty cool lookin. then id like a zebra pleco,
gold nugget pleco, adonis pleco, so many plecos i want. check out
www.planetcatfish.com plecos galore.

[Elizabeth Naime]

Quoth "Rick" > on Mon, 1 Mar 2004 11:04:58 -0600,

>I have pleco's in a variety of tanks with everything from Cichlids to
>livebearers and Rainbows. They get along with anything IMO. Yes they will
>eventually get quite large however your tank is big enough to handle them.
>My common Pleco in my 77g tank is kind of the King and puts the run to
>anything that comes around when I add some zucchini to the tank. Remember
>the most common cause of death in these fish in starvation. They need to be
>fed just like the rest of the fish.

Feeding is not a problem; in fact it's a joy to find that there is a use
for zucchini, which I personally do not consider an edible substance.

How about substrate and driftwood? I have bare-bottomed tanks for the
goldies, and I'd like to keep the "other fish" tank bare-bottomed as
well. Easier to clean, especially since this tank will not be elevated.
I think I'll need to provide "cover" and hidey-holes, but will a few
largish river rocks (the sort that don't affect pH either way) be okay?

The Internet sources I've seen all say they should have driftwood in
their tanks, but don't say why. Is it just to provide cover and
algae-growing territory, or is there a more specific relationship
between pecos and wood that I need to respect?


-----------------------------------------
Only know that there is no spork.

[RedForeman ©®]

> How about substrate and driftwood? I have bare-bottomed tanks for the
> goldies, and I'd like to keep the "other fish" tank bare-bottomed as
> well. Easier to clean, especially since this tank will not be
> elevated. I think I'll need to provide "cover" and hidey-holes, but
> will a few largish river rocks (the sort that don't affect pH either
> way) be okay?

As long as it doesn't leech toxins in the water, they're ok...

> The Internet sources I've seen all say they should have driftwood in
> their tanks, but don't say why. Is it just to provide cover and
> algae-growing territory, or is there a more specific relationship
> between pecos and wood that I need to respect?

pl*cos are one of my favorites, for many reasons, but I've only got 2, a 14"
common named Jaws, for obvious reasons, and a 4" albino bristlenose named
goldie...

Driftwood is necessary for rasping, or gnawing, it helps with some digestive
issues, said to be common with pl*cos that have NO wood.... IME, I've never
had one without the other... and wouldn't.

--
RedForeman ©®
Sorry about the troll, the ball is rolling there....