Choosing the Right Pleco

There are many Pleco species in the world. Pleco is the common name for Catfish species in the family Loricariidae. They are all different types and colors of pleco, and they have all different personalities. Plecos come from South American Rivers and lakes. Depending on the species, they can range from 5 inches to 2 feet long. They can either be kindly and peceful, or territorial and need a whole tank on their own. They are useful on keeping unwanted growth in the aquarium, since they eat algae and plants in the wild. They are some of the most popular aquarium fish, and this article is about choosing the right Pleco for you, and basics on what that pleco needs. Below I have listed a few pleco species that are interesting and fairly easy to find, but there are many more species out there!

• Size: 5-7 inches (15 cm)
• Common Names: Busy Nose Catfish, Sucker-mouth Catfish
• Minimum tank size: 20 gallons (75L)
• Diet: Algae and plant growth in the aquarium, they also eat algae wafers.
• Set-up: Any sort of tropical tank design, but preferably with a pice of wood and plants.
• Water Parameters: pH of 6.5-7.5. They love soft water that is slightly acidic or alkaline.
• Temperature: 70-79F (21-26C)

•  Size: 1-2 feet (30-60 cm)
• Common Name: Common Pleco, armoured sucker-mouth Pleco
• Minimum tank size: 100 gallons (378L)
• Diet: Feeds on algae and plant material, use algae wafers too. These fish also accept vegetables willingly.
• Set-up: These fish eat plants and love wood. Keep the aquarium decorated, with lots of cover or use fast-growing plants.
• Water parameters: pH of 6.0-7.5,
• Temperature: 68-82F (20-28C)
• Other: Even though it dosen't seem like it, these fish do jump! These fish can be kept with any fish except big fat ones of flat-bodied ones. These fish can also live to be 20-30 years old.

• Size: 15 inches (38 cm)
• Common Name: Sailfin Pleco
• Minimum tank size: 80 gallons (300L)
• Diet: Algae-based foods, meaty foods, and vegtables are all very important to its diet.
• Set-up: Well-fed ones will not eats plants, but they may eat plants if they are hungry. This Pleco needs lots of hiding places and loves wood.
• Water parameters: pH of 6.5-7.5. Moderate water hardnes is good.
• Temperature: 75-86F (24-30C)
• Other: These fish cannot live with members of their own kind or species of pleco closely related to them.

• Size: 7-8 inches (17cm)
• Common Name: Rubber Lipped Pleco,  Rubber Lip Pleco, bulldog pleco
• Minimum tank size: 25 gallons (95L)
• Diet: algae, algae based foods, and vegtables
• Set-up: Most set-ups but preferably with hiding places. They can live with live plants.
• Water parameters: pH 6.5-7.5
• Temperature: 70-78F (21-25C)

• Size: 17 inches (43 cm)
• Common Name: Royal Pleco, Royal Catfish
• Minimum tank size: 90 gallons (340L)
• Diet: Vegtables, algae-products, algae, a rare meaty treat
• Set-up: Must use wood in the aquarium
• Water parameters: pF of 6.5-7.5 with soft water
• Temperature: 72-86F (22-30C)
• Other: Should not be kept with members of its own species or similar species.

• Size: 8 inches (20 cm)
• Common Name: Golden Nugget Pleco, Gold Seam Pleco
• Minimum tank size: 50 gallons (190L)
• Diet: Plant-Based and Meat-Based foods. It may munch on driftwood. It likes left-over food and will eat algae on the bottom of the aquarium.
• Set-up: Wood is a must-have. You should also have hiding places and plants.
• Water parameters: pH of 6.5-7.5. These fish need high water quality and a high current.
• Temperature: 77-86F (25-30C)
• Other: These Plecos are rare and expensive ($50), but very pretty.

• Size: 4 inches (10cm)
• Common Name: Clown Pleco, Clown panaque, and Ringlet Pleco.
• Minimum tank size: 20 gallons (75L)
• Diet: It eats wood, sometimes algae, meaty foods, vegtables. If hungry it may eat plants.
• Set-up: You must have wood in the aquarium, ideally you should keep several types of wood.
• Water parameters: pH of 6.8-7.6
• Temperature: 73-82F (23-28C)

• Size: 5 inches (12cm)
• Common Name: King Tiger Pleco, Gypsy King Tiger Pleco,
• Minimum tank size: 30 gallons (112L)
• Diet: Flake Food, Meaty Foods, algae, algae-based products, Left over food
• Set-up: This fish may eat plants. Keep hiding places.
• Water Parameters: pH 6.5-7.4
• Temperature: 77-84F (25-29C)
• Other: Expensive ($100) and hard to find.

• Size: 5-7 inches (13-18cm)
• Common Name: Butterfly Pleco, Flunder Pleco
• Minimum tank size: 35 gallons (135L)
• Diet: very good algae eater. They also eat algae-based food, vegtables, rare and small servings of meaty foods.
• Set-up: Stay away from dark subtrate so it is more colorful. Have hiding places. Plants will be eaten if hungry.
• Water Parameters: pH 5.6-7.0. Must have tons of oxygen in the tank! Current for them is nice.
• Temperature: 77-82F (25-28C)
• Other: Can change color to camoflauge.

Most pleco species are able to be albino, especially bristlenose and common plecos. Albino Plecos need just as much care as its species. They do have red eyes but Instead of being pure white they tend to be more light pink or tan.