Butterfly Plecos

[Peligrin]

I'm seriously considering getting a butterfly pleco for my 10g (picture attached). ****From what I've read, they are voracious algae eaters. ****Can anyone attest to that, as that's the main reason for the purchase (along with size and entertainment value)?

All I have in that tank right now is an upside-down catfish. ****I'm also planning on getting four guppies (1 male, 3 female). ****The u/d cat hangs out in the barrels and is about 2 to 2-1/2 inches long. ****Should I take out the pillars decoration & put in something else specifically for the pleco?

[DavidDoyle]

There is no such fish as a butterfly pleco, what you are likely looking at is a hillstream loach. The latter are found in fast flowing well oxygenated waters in Asia, use their fins and belly to mak a suction cup to hold fast to rocks in hillside streams so they can munch algae. Algea eating plecos are suckermouth catfish from SA and bith grip and eath with their mouth.

You can find more info about hillstream loaches here http://www.loaches.com/

[garfieldnfish]

Actually there is a butterfly pleco. L52. Great little dude, go to planet catfish for info.

[Peligrin]

The pleco commonly known as the butterfly pleco or the flounder pleco is the dekeyseria brachyura (L168 -- http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog...yser/706_f.php ). ****The L052 ( http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog...yser/983_f.php ) is also known as the butterfly pleco or the flounder pleco (how confusing!), but "the stripes are more clearly separated" in the L168. ****Also, the L168 has more of an orange base color.

I've been to Planet Catfish. ****The feeding comments on the L168 say specifically that it's an algae eater. ****The feeding comments on the L052 say nothing about algae.

I guess I should make sure I'm getting the L168 before I buy, huh?!

[DavidDoyle]

I stand corrected.

[angelki]

I have a Butterfly Pleco-L168 and he is a fabulous algae eater. This is a great little pleco and I would recommend one to anyone wanting an algae eater. He keeps my tank very clean. He stays fairly small too-about 4-5 inches. I also give him an algae disc sometimes and he gobbles that right up too.

[Peligrin]

Thank you so much! I just wanted to confirm what I'd heard before I shelled out the dough. It looks like they can get pretty expensive.

[KingLittle]

Well, I also have one butterfly pleco. But to be honest, I really can't tell you if it's goot algae eater or not, because he's living in my 80gal tank where is a lot of hiding places, so he chooses to show himself about every other month...

[Peligrin]

Do plecos have to have driftwood?

[chrisinha]

hillstream loaches or borneo loaches are very sensitive fish. you water parameters should be very good. also, they prefer cool temperatures between 68-75F. they are beautiful fish IMO (i lost mine, but i had it for just one week) and am looking forward to getting another one in the future.

regarding driftwood i know it's essential for some species' digestion, but i dont which ones. im pretty sure you can get a more specific answer at plant catfish