Pleco coexistence with agressives

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...porin 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?

"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...porin 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