Michigan Cichlid Association
General Category => Old World => Topic started by: SteveScheuring on March 31, 2014, 01:55:13 PM
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Currently I have 2 tanks with Haps and Peacocks. A 90 and 120 gallon. To date I have not had any bottom feeders but I hear a lot about Plecos and Synodonis. How important is it to have one? Would you suggest it? Is there one that is better than another?
Thank you in advance for your thoughts.
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Keeping Plecos and Synos would be in my opinion only appropriate if you want them, not because you need them. Both kinds of catfish will eat eggs/fry, so even though you have mouthbrooders, it is possible your yield will go down if you let the parents spit the fry instead of stripping the females.
Beyond that, plecos can work in African tanks but are not native. Especially the L# plecos, aka the expensive ones, are a risky addition to an African cichlid tank. The ones that work best also produce lots of waste, such as the 'common' pleco which these days is typically a pterogoplichthys gibbiceps or similar. Further, that species will get quite large; up to 2 feet if properly cared for.
Personally, I think a better fit would be synos, e.g. petricola or lucipinnis, as those are from similar waters (though from tanganyika not malawi). Some synos like nigriventris may work but are naturally in more riverine conditions i.e. softer water than the rift lakes. Others get too larger for a heavily stocked cichlid tank, e.g. would work better in the 120 (especially if it's a 6 foot tank) than in the 90.
There are also synodontis njassae that are true malawian synos, but they are harder to find and thus more expensive. RegalBlue has some (or did) so he may know a source. Or may have just happened on them.
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I agree with the above.
I have synos in my tanks... a couple differnet kinds of plecos (but as said... they prefer soft water)... clown loaches and also skunk loaches.