pleco problem

[luvmydiscus]

In my current tank I have a small regular pleco. I have been watching it and noticed that it will often try and suck onto my Discus....

Of course this cannot happen and I want to keep my tank nice and clean what can you suggest that I do??

My tank does have gravel with some artificial plants, 5 neons and my one Discus. Should I trade this brat in for some cory cats?? But what about the algae on the glass etc

Need your help please......Amy

[FishLover]

take the pleco out before it kills your discus!

[luvmydiscus]

what can i have in there that will keep algae at bay??

[luvmydiscus]

Okay, I can get a BN pleco instead. Would this work better or will they still attach to Discus too??

[Ben]

what can i have in there that will keep algae at bay??

Otocinclus would be good, make sure they are not too small as they might become discus dinner!

[Dee]

Common BN

[samir]

But what about the algae on the glass etc

the most effective algae eater is a sponge attached to a hand, as it moves over the walls of your tank the algae will miraculously disappear :P

[luvmydiscus]

Well I got my baby bristlenose last night. They sure are cute...

With my first Discus I had an Otto cat and it was always sucking onto the fish and I am pretty sure that is what killed it in the end.

I honestly have never had good luck with Otto cats anytime, they can be nasty little beasts from my experience.

I have had a BN before with other fish and never had a problem so hopefully this will be the same again. The Discus is so much better today, swimming all over with those vivid colors a showing. I solved the problem before any damage was done.....

Thanks everyone for the replies.....

[lesley]

I have three plecos and several bristlenoses in with my discus. These types of fish need wood. I have never had a problem with them attaching to the discus, however, if there was no driftwood, maybe it would be different.

I find that they do clean up the algae, I hardly ever have to clean the glass, and they clean up every scrap of uneaten food. Mine will push the discus away to get at a choice morsel on the floor of the tank, but I find that they co-exist very peacefully, the discus are not worried by them at all.

HTH

[luvmydiscus]

That is great to hear. I do have driftwood in my tank plus I also have a ceramic thing that my BN loves to hang out in. I wish they would stay this small, 2" they are darn cute.....

I also give it a small piece of a algae wafer every second day. Last night I could not find my Discus and that darn fish was inside this ceramic tunnel eating the piece of wafer after just eating a belly load of blood worms...

I hope this all works out better, I love the look and size of the BN much better and was glad to get one as they don't come into our LFS often.