Sm to Med sized Plecos?

[Immus21]

Hi all you Pleco lovers and Plecoholics!

I have a 75G tank unplanted with black sand for substrate. I want to get a Pleco but am tired of the giants to be that every LFS carry. Looking for something that maxs out in the 6 or 8" area. The other tank inhabitants will be clown Loaches, redline barbs and threadfin acaras. Also I'm not looking to spend huge $$$$ but have more than $8.99 to spend

Thanks in advanced for all the useful replies!

[jay_leask]

check out what charles has at canadian aquatics, im sure you will find something to your liking there.

[jay_leask]

green phantoms?

[adanac50]

green phantoms?

Agreed. L200 or L200a. I have 1 myself. Awesome tank cleaners.
One of the better lookin' plecos...

[mdwflyer]

+1 for Charles, and +1 for L200 it's the only pleco I see all the time :-)

[target]

L201 would also work

[2wheelsx2]

I hate to deter anyone from plecos, but one of the reasons why the commons and sailfins are popular is because they are aggressive and not shy about their food. Often times, the smaller plecos will hide whenever it's light out, making them all but invisible. I just hate to see ads where guys are selling their plecos because they never see them. So if you get one on the bigger side, there's less chance of them hiding. In a mixed tank, I'd stay away from mainly herbivorous one. Larger Hypans like the L199 would be more visible, or Peckotia species like the L075, or L202 would also do. The L200a and L200 Charles has right now are very nice, but are small, and will be apt to hide for a while.

[snowlights]

I have a rubbernose pleco and like 2wheelsx2 said, mine hides most of the time. If I'm across the room I'll see him hoover around the glass a bit and sometimes he'll race out to snatch food from the other fish, but for the most part, he hides.

But rubbernose plecos are definitely small-seems smaller than you're looking for. (Websites say they range between 3-5 inches and mine is only just pushing 3)

[Ursus sapien]

My bristlenoses are a mixed lot when it comes to being out in view. Females are always out and about, especially when food hits the water. They're skittish, but visible. They have bolt-holes for whenever they feel the need, and I think that makes them bolder overall.
Most of the males stay in or around their caves all the time, but some of them- my albinos and silvertip males especially - seem content enough to hang out outside of their caves when they don't have eggs or babies.

[jay_leask]

Hi all you Pleco lovers and Plecoholics!

I have a 75G tank unplanted with black sand for substrate. I want to get a Pleco but am tired of the giants to be that every LFS carry. Looking for something that maxs out in the 6 or 8" area. The other tank inhabitants will be clown Loaches, redline barbs and threadfin acaras. Also I'm not looking to spend huge $$$$ but have more than $8.99 to spend

Thanks in advanced for all the useful replies!

so what did you end up getting?