Re: Dwarf Plecos
Hi all,
I'd keep away from GN Plecs (
Baryancistrus), they are difficult to keep (they need very warm, well oxygenated water and a good quality diet vegetable based, but with a considerable protein content ), if you can keep them alive long enough they grow very large and are potentially aggressive as older fish.
Ancistrus claro is a good small
Ancistrus spp. and fairly active. As long as you feed them vegetables they wil leave your plants alone (but possibly not
Echinodorus). A few other smaller attractive BN's are about at the moment,
Ancistrus "Rio Tocantins" is one that would be suitable.
All the small
Panaque spp. are largely wood eaters, but will eat some plants, and produce a lot of saw-dust, L169 is probably the most attractive of the relatively easily obtainable ones.
Peckoltia spp. and
Hypancistrus spp. are fine with plants, but the
Hypancistrus spp. are largely nocturnal and you never see them, I've got
H. debliterra and L333 and I only ever see them fleetingly if I look at the tank after lights out.
Peckoltia compta (formerly L134) is suitable and day active, but they are much sort after and expensive to buy.
Have a look on Planet Catfish <
http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/_species.php?species_id=1934>, or Plecoplanet for profiles, <
http://plecoplanet.com/?page_id=321>. Both sites have active forums.
cheers Darrel