Pleco for goldfish tank

[starlit_rain]

I have a 55 gallon tank with a couple of goldfish and I would really like a Pleco to put in there. I would like one that doesn't get huge as I only have a 55 gallon, but I also don't want one that stays really, really small either. can you suggest some plecos for me please? thanks!

 

[WyldFya]

Goldfish are a coldwater species, and loricariids are tropical. There are few that will be able to handle those temps long term, and will likely run into many parasitic outbreaks. Those that can handle the temps, will generally attain large sizes.

 

[starlit_rain]

Every one seems to say that a pleco will suck of a goldfish's slime coat at night. is this true or is it only certain pleco's that will do this? if there is a pleco that i could keep in my 55 gallon with my goldfish can you please help me out? If they really won't work out in a goldfish tank, then is there a small variety that i could put in a 29 gallon tropical community tank?

 

[Ianab]

Every one seems to say that a pleco will suck of a goldfish's slime coat at night. is this true or is it only certain pleco's that will do this?

It can happen. Some people keep Goldfish and plecos together and have no problems, but some do develop a taste for goldfish slime

then is there a small variety that i could put in a 29 gallon tropical community tank?

Yup, plenty of smaller plecos. The bristlenose species like this would be great in a 29gal community tank
http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=49
They only grow to 4-6" long and are peacefull and hardy.

Cheers

Ian

 

[Mystix212]

Bn plecs do well in mature goldfish tanks, if the temps are close. But like WyldFya explained, there arent many options.

 

[sandtiger]

I would not really consider goldfish coldwater, if you look at where they are native they are more sub-tropical and able to survive in both colder and warmer water. Non-native goldfish have become established in a lot of other tropical countries as well. I think a temp in the mid 70's would work for the goldfish and perhaps a bushynose or rubberlip plecostomus(pay attention to the species as some rubberlips can grow large).

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Most fancy goldfish are sub-tropical, but non-fancy goldfish like comets and commons do thrive in true coldwater tanks.

The only pleco i would advise for a goldfish tank is a common pleco, since they can do very well in cool sub-tropical temps, however common pleco's grow too large for a 55gallon.
Common plecos have also known to try and suck the slime coat off goldfish, although not all commons do this, its still a risk to take. Feeding the pleco can also be difficult, since the goldfish will swallow any food you put in the tank like algae wafers and catfish pelets before the pleco even gets a chance to eat.

 

[sandtiger]

Most fancy goldfish are sub-tropical, but non-fancy goldfish like comets and commons do thrive in true coldwater tanks.

This dosen't make sense, they are the same species. Besides, given the fact that comets and commons are more like their wild counterparts I would think that they rather then fancy goldfish would be the ones who handle warm water better.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

This dosen't make sense, they are the same species. Besides, given the fact that comets and commons are more like their wild counterparts I would think that they rather then fancy goldfish would be the ones who handle warm water better.

It does make sense.

Fancy varieties of goldfish like fantails and ranchu's were only developed later on in goldfish keeping history when keeping goldfish in tanks or indoor ponds became more common in Japan and China.

The non-fancy varieties of goldfish like the standard Common goldfish was primarily developed as an outdoor pond goldfish and not as an indoor goldfish.

So over the centuries as people were breeding fancy varieties of goldfish indoors more and more, the fancy varieties inevitably become more accustomed to living in at room temperatures.

This has come about to such an extent, that now days if you kept a fancy variety of goldfish like an Oranda outdoors all year round, it would die in the winter if the pond dropped to freezing temps, while non-fancy goldfish like Comets and Commons would survive absolutely fine in the freezing winter temps.


You understand ?

 

[sandtiger]

I can see how it would make sense but I'm not sure I buy it. They all look different yes but their physiology is the same IMO.