I have a 33 gallon planted tropical tank with 5 black skirt tetras, 3 danios, 7 tiger barbs and one 6 inch pleco.

I have a 27 gallon hex tank (new set-up, not yet cycled) with a weather loach and a pleco (not a common.) These fish are rescued fish and could have any number of problems that I am unaware of yet.

I have another 6 inch pleco in my goldie tank that I must move.

Which tank should I put this pleco into that would be best for all fish involved? I need some advice before this pleco kills my goldie. Please don't tell me to set-up another tank, I already have 5 and I think I have push my husbands limits.

Anita

Anita that is a hard call. With tropicals you can count 1 inch of fish per gal of water. This includes the plecos. So hopefully that helps a bit.
I know sometimes it is hard to find places for these little guys when you need to re arrange stuff.

You are so right! I am tempted to put up a sign at my LFS to see if there is some one who would like him, BUT how would I know if they will take care of him? My fear is someone would put him in a pond for the summer and leave him there to die over winter!

I really do not have the room for one and I have two! My sister has a 77 gallon that she wants to set up, she might just get them both. But that does not help me now.

Thanks for all of your help!

Antia

Plecos can be quite territorial when they are older, so you will have to keep an eye on him when you move him in with the other pleco. I would probably go with the 33 gallon tank, since it would probably provide more room for the plecos to make territories since it is rectangular rather than a hex. Also, provide lots of caves or bog wood, so each can stake out a hiding place.

You know, you might be better off keeping him in a rubbermaid tub until you can give him to your sister

omg! Where are you in canada? i can pay for shipping and take him if you want? I have been looking for a plec that has some growing behind him, all the ones i can get here are like 1 inchers.

Thanks for the advice everyone! I myself have been leaning towards the 33 gallon because of the plants and the ground area. I would do the tub thing but I just do not have the room or a spare filter. This mornig I happen to have aquired a 20 gallon bow front tank (with hood and lights but no filter) for $25! Now I don't know what to do. I think I need to wait for these fish to get healthy before I can do much of anything.

(I have set-up a corner filter in my goldie tank using gravel from this tank and floss. I am hoping to get it "seeded" with good bio-bugs then I have my filter.)

Meg_Carroll, I'm in Alberta. How's 'bout you? I would love it if you could have him. He is a common so he's going to get BIG. He is only about 1 year old and 6 inches long. His name is Percy and he loves cucumber!

Anita

Im in nova scotia, but i could pay for shipping. Hed be going into a tank with a cichlid, (why i needed him to have some size) and then when i get my 75g for my oscar, hed be going in there. so i could price shipping on him if you wanted?

I am very nervous about sending Percy through the mail but I know he will have a great home when he gets there so I think we will do it. I still need to talk to my mother about it because she brought him over here 9 months ago but there shouldn't be a problem.

If you would please price out the shipping that would be great.

Now, how do we do this? How do I pack him?

Also, I am going to be shuting down my tropical tank in a few months (we are going to be moving) so I will have another common pleco who is in need of a home. He is 6 inches long as well and his name is Marshie. One for your cichlid tank and one for your oscar tank.

Let me know!

Anita

I kno whut you mean about sending him, its a little sketchy sending a fish via mail. I looked into priority shipping and the way it works is i can have him before lunch the following day (its like 12 hour priority shipping) I have to call cnada post for shipping costs (as i am sure they are different for fishes) and i will ask them how to pack them and whut not. I think they pack them in like a cooler with a heat pack or something, but i have no idea.

Any ways, i am calling canada post tomorrow after work, and i will post everything here.

I would most likley be interested in the other one as well, and in a few months i should have the 75g set up so it should work. I love plecs, but the only ones i can get here are less then 2 inches, and my cichlid would have a feild day with it.

This is wicked tho. i can t wait to get the info all sorted out!!

You could also look into the couriers, such as UPS

I love pleco's too! I wish I could keep them but I really need to cut down on the number of aquariums I have. I would love a 100 gallon tank just for pleco's! It is great to watch them soar through the tank.

I am excited for you! He is a great fish! Great personality! He likes to play in the bubble wall and he is out all day!

Thanks for looking for all this info! It's great! I am still if-ie about the mail but we will work something out! My brother use to work for Canada post and he told me fragile means "don't through more than 10 feet!" Eeeek!

Anita

Caada post doesnt ship live animals, but they told me to check with my local pet shop and see how they do it and contact their courier, or have them arrange it for me (whut an idea) so out i head tomorrow to find pet couriers.

I thought canada post had a courier that did it, i know like fed-ex or whut ever does it (thats how you get fish from breeders isnt it?) but any ways, i will figure this out!!!

It was too funny when he was going on about getting the fish shipped, he was like well we do it by cold storage and weight and blah blah blah, i was like 'how would i pack him? wouldnt he need a heater?' and the guys like 'he?...... they need to be cold....? wait whut type of fish are you sending? processed?' and i was like 'NO! a pleco, a live fish, about 6 inches long...' and he was like 'OH! Oh no we dont ship live animals.' Oh it was funny. So now i know how to ship market fish anyways.....

Oh how funny is that!!

I got some very nice pictures of Percy! I'll see if I can post them tonite!

Anita