Pleco coexistence with agressives

[Polarhound]

I know from experience that a pleco will not coexist peacefully with my
buttikoferi, unless of course you consider the pleco becoming a midnight
snack a peacful coexistence.

suspect number 1: http://home.comcast.net/~polarhound/marty2.jpg

I'm wondering about how my Leporinus Fasciatus will react to one, and
wanted to see if anyone had any experience with them before I sacrifice
another. Looking at one for this tank as brown algae is starting to
move in... Although the algae DOES give the white gravel I had second
thoughts about after putting it in a bit softer look.. :)

suspect number 2: http://home.comcast.net/~polarhound/leporinus1.jpg

At least I know one will exist with the tiger barbs I had to rescue out
of my father's tank.. (why he thoughts barbs and angels could live
together is beyond me)

[Polarhound]

Polarhound wrote:

> I know from experience that a pleco will not coexist peacefully with my
> buttikoferi, unless of course you consider the pleco becoming a midnight
> snack a peacful coexistence.
>
> suspect number 1: http://home.comcast.net/~polarhound/marty2.jpg
>
> I'm wondering about how my Leporinus Fasciatus will react to one, and
> wanted to see if anyone had any experience with them before I sacrifice
> another. Looking at one for this tank as brown algae is starting to
> move in... Although the algae DOES give the white gravel I had second
> thoughts about after putting it in a bit softer look.. :)
>
> suspect number 2: http://home.comcast.net/~polarhound/leporinus1.jpg
>
> At least I know one will exist with the tiger barbs I had to rescue out
> of my father's tank.. (why he thoughts barbs and angels could live
> together is beyond me)

Oh yes, and here is the blurb that got me worried about having a pleco
around with the leporinus:

http://species.fishindex.com/species_270leporinus_fasciatus_blackbanded_leporin us.html

Diet: Our Leporinus' ate just about everything they could catch. This
includes algae wafers, live goldfish, live brineshrimp, frozen
brineshrimp, frozen bloodworms, live blackworms, snails, and several of
their tankmates.

Temperament: Initially they are a small and somewhat timid fish, but as
they grow their dispostion changes dramaticly. They are voracious
eaters, and this includes any of their tankmates who has the misfortune
of not being able to defend itself. In under a year, our two leps ate an
elephant nose, a plecostomas, an albino catfish, a clown knike, 2 apple
snails, and an astonishing amount of goldfish meant for their bigger
tankmates. I had to remove the larger one because he started picking on
a pleco that was at least 3 times bigger than he was. The remaining one
seems a little calmer now, but for how long......?

[NetMax]

"Polarhound" > wrote in message
...
> Polarhound wrote:
<snip>
>
> Oh yes, and here is the blurb that got me worried about having a pleco
> around with the leporinus:
>
>
http://species.fishindex.com/species_270leporinus_fasciatus_blackbanded_leporin us.html

I agree with this article. Small Leps are fine with fast little fish.
At about 4", the predation starts. At 6", they cannot really be trusted
with most fish. I keep them with Oscars and other large cichlids (with
no issues). During some tank moves, I put one in with a large peacock,
and they mouth wrestled (weirdest thing). The Lep didn't lose. The
Peacock figured he wasn't going to win and they both eventually stopped.

NetMax

[Polarhound]

NetMax wrote:

> "Polarhound" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>Polarhound wrote:
>
> <snip>
>
>>Oh yes, and here is the blurb that got me worried about having a pleco
>>around with the leporinus:
>>
>>
>
> http://species.fishindex.com/species_270leporinus_fasciatus_blackbanded_leporin us.html
>
> I agree with this article. Small Leps are fine with fast little fish.
> At about 4", the predation starts. At 6", they cannot really be trusted
> with most fish. I keep them with Oscars and other large cichlids (with
> no issues). During some tank moves, I put one in with a large peacock,
> and they mouth wrestled (weirdest thing). The Lep didn't lose. The
> Peacock figured he wasn't going to win and they both eventually stopped.

How well do you figure he would get along with my buttikoferi?

[NetMax]

"Polarhound" > wrote in message
...
> NetMax wrote:
>
> > "Polarhound" > wrote in message
> > ...
> >
> >>Polarhound wrote:
> >
> > <snip>
> >
> >>Oh yes, and here is the blurb that got me worried about having a
pleco
> >>around with the leporinus:
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
http://species.fishindex.com/species_270leporinus_fasciatus_blackbanded_leporin us.html
> >
> > I agree with this article. Small Leps are fine with fast little
fish.
> > At about 4", the predation starts. At 6", they cannot really be
trusted
> > with most fish. I keep them with Oscars and other large cichlids
(with
> > no issues). During some tank moves, I put one in with a large
peacock,
> > and they mouth wrestled (weirdest thing). The Lep didn't lose. The
> > Peacock figured he wasn't going to win and they both eventually
stopped.
>
> How well do you figure he would get along with my buttikoferi?

If there wasn't a big size difference, I'd say pretty well. Re-arrange
the tank rockwork a bit, and give the Lep a few spots to hide in.
Pecking order is very important to cichlids among cichlids. It's less
important across species which don't represent spawning competition. In
battle, neither fish will not be highly motivated to take it to
completion. Then the remaining issues are competition for food, space
and nursery. Because they are domesticated, food is not a big concern to
them. Give them a big enough tank and unless there are fry involved,
they should be ok. Leps do grow quite large (10"?), are very sturdy and
incredible jumpers.

Note that the occasional fish is just ornery, and with those, throw the
book away. You can't put anything in with them.

NetMax