Plecos

Plecos are nocturnal scavengers and are great for helping you control algae. Some of these armored catfish can grow very large. Be sure to know about the type of Pleco you choose.

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Shy Suckerfish Are The Groundskeepers Of Your Tropical Fish Aquarium

If you have an aquarium light, then you are going to have algae. Plecos are great for helping you control algae growth in your aquarium.

These shy fish will spend most of the day stuck to the glass of your aquarium behind equipment and decor. They especially love to hide under driftwood for the occasional daytime snack. But when the lights go out, watch for quick moving shadows on your aquarium glass. That will be your catfish looking for patches of algae to eat.

The little guys that you buy at the fish store often grow up to be rather large fish. You should be sure that you don't get one that will outgrow your tank. They are voracious eaters and can produce quite a bit of waste. If you have a large Pleco, you may have to add an extra water change to your weekly maintenance.

When little Plecos become larger, they will sometimes uproot your plants. Be sure that you have any plants well anchored because they love to burrow under the roots to feed. Don't use a very course substrate because of this. It can irritate their sensitive noses.

These fish are usually found in swift currents in the wild. They have powerful sucker lips to hold on to rocks and submerged logs. Because of their swift water natural habitats, they like to have high oxygen levels in their water. Aquarium filtration with a high flow rate usually fulfills this need.

These are very strong fish and they can move extremely quick. They are built to swim upstream against fast currents. This makes them very good jumpers. They will sometimes rush to the surface quickly to gulp air. This aids in their ability to stay bouyant. You must have a tight fitting hood and keep water levels a couple inches below it to keep them from jumping out of your aquarium or bumping their heads. They will sometimes jump up out of the water when they go for air.

These interesting fish can be very hard to breed. They usually need specific conditions to induce spawning and the fry tend to develop slowly. You will probably need a very large aquarium to breed them and that is not usually easy for a home aquarist to accomplish.

These interesting catfish can be a beautiful and useful addition to your tropical fish aquarium. Just be sure you are able to care for them at their adult size before you choose one to take home. Below are some common types of Plecos. Look at their profile pages for more information.

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For more information, go to Wikipedia's Plecos page.