i just found out that the type of algae eater pleco i have is a common! i know that there is a big banner on top of this page warning about them. when i bought him he was in a tank with other gf and i assumed he'd be o.k.
here's the thing though
he has done good with my six gf. the only thing that he tends to do from time is to chase a gf (except for my moore?) out of his log and even at that he doesn't do it aggressively. i have really come to adore squishy and i am worried by the things i have read about him.
do any of you know if i have cause to be concerned or if he'll turn aggressive later on? i got him a year ago and nothing alarming has hapenned yet. what should i do?
i hope you guyz can help me out because it is driving me nuts worrying about both squishy and my gf

I don't know but i would'nt keep it in there for long now because he is starting to get aggressive and the banner on the compatible fish forum says: One Rule of thumb guys, Dont place a Common pleco in with goldfish.

good point

IMO if the plec is only showing aggression by chasing the fish out of his home, i dont think it would be a problem. Its not really that aggressive. Id just keep a close eye on him to make sure he doesnt start sucking on the fish, as that id where the problem lies with plecos. Good Luck!

thank you. i have been keeping a very close eye on him.

my first post...

I have to say that i'm surprised about this warning about keeping common plecos away from Goldfish. My dad kept plecos with his goldfish for around 5 years and there have been no problems. The aquarium store nearby has always had plecos in the same tank as the goldfish. I bought two goldfish Saturday afternoon and saw 3 to 4 inch plecos in the goldfish tanks.

I think the plecos my dad had all came from this same store, maybe they just have very friendly plecos?...

I think that in most cases when a pleco gets aggressive, it is because he is hungry. Often in a tank of goldfish, there isn't much food left for the bottom feeders and when they get hungry they will go after the goldfish. It really isn't their fault, they are just trying to survive.

I think it is important to feed the bottom feeders, either by dropping in algae wafers when the tank is in darkness, or to feed blanched zucchini. With the zucchini, the goldfish will eat the soft centre, but will leave the skin and the firmer flesh for the bottom feeders. They love it. I cut the zucchini into wedges, about three inches long, then cook them in a bit of water in the microwave for a few minutes.

Now, there are some aggressive plecos, too, that can't be trusted with other fish. If you notice round, red marks on the sides of your goldfish that can be a sign that the pleco is sucking on them.

The bad thing about common plecos is that they get so large. I currently don't have any, and now I buy the smaller bristlenose plecos (ancistrus). They stay around 4".

I'm confused, I'm keeping a common pleco with my goldies and all he does is hide from them , sit there and suck away, and he's 5-6 inches long and the goldies are 1-2 inches without thier tail length.

If I were you I would take the pleco out of the tank. I had a goldfish that got attcked by one when I was younger. Luckily he lived. I would listen to the warning!

In general,we do say to take the pleco out of the goldfish tanks. There are certain member's here that do keep pleco's with their goldfish,and have not had any problems with them.There are some real key factor's here that they follow though. You must make sure that you are fufilling your pleco''s diet completely as touchofsky said.I think that this is probably the number one cause for attacks. People are under the misconception that pleco's are a bottom cleaner that cleans up the other fish's mess,and that they don't have to provide anything more.That is so not true.Pleco's have huge appetites for a variety in their diet,and need fed alot more than the leftover's on the bottom.The 2nd factor,is space.Pleco's get huge.And even before they grow that big,they are kind of territorial-they need their own space.If you're not providing a big enough aquarium,then the other fish will definately be in their space. And the people that keep them,are well seasoned experienced people,that stay alert with these fish,and know to keep an eye on them.That does not mean a pleco attacking a goldie will never happen though,no matter what steps you take.When you keep a pleco in with goldies,no matter how nice your pleco is,you are taking a risk. Do you feel comfortable knowing that one day you could look and see your favorite fish being gutted? Sounds harsh,but this is something that could happen...As long as you're aware of that. These are some things to consider. The truth of it is that more people have problems keeping pleco's with goldies than not.

hi i fugured that he would be o.k just eating leftovers, but i think from now on i will be buying algea wafers and will try the zuccinni thing.

You will not see the pleco chasing your fish, for they are mostly nocturnal in their feeding. The reason goldfish are so suceptible to the pleco is that they sleep motionless on the bottom of the tank. The pleco eats "dead" matter from the bottom of the tank, and he does not care if it is still breathing.

You will only find evidence of the pleco's aggressionin the morning after.