Bristlenose pleco

[Mike62]

Does anybody have any experience in keeping bristlenose plecos in an all cichlid tank? Can the bristlenose survive with his protection or will they take him out. I would use snails to control my algae, but the Cornwall store has no freshwater snails, and hasnt had any for over a month now.

[taim_30]

In my experience, I never had a problem with them in a mbuna tank.  I introduced them early on while they were the same size and never had a problem.  Not sure if it would work for an established tank, might want to check with Rob as he breeds them.

[ldeschamps]

He should be fine as long as he can hide during the day. He will come out at night and do his job!!

[dan2x38]

I had several plecos in a Malawi setup. Had the common BN and the starlight BN never an issue. Would see the common BN out in the day time on the glass if he wanted too. They have very spiney fins that protect them from most pesky fish. Make sure there are lots of hiding places so the pleco does feel secure if he is chased. I use to put some zucchini stuck on a wooden skewer then stuck under edge of a rock. All the cichlids would come out to feed on it and some times they'd have to eat around the pleco stuck to the centre of it... LOL One key to the success of my mixed Malawi cichlid setup was high population to distribute the aggression. When one chased another he was soon being chased and so on. Of course I had serious over kill filtering. BTW I couldn't keep snails in my African setups the cichlids would eventually get them.

[Blackstitch]

I'd have to agree that BN plecos go wonderfully with africans. I have two in my african tank now, and at first the cichlids bugged them, but now they seem to mostly leave them alone

[Mike62]

Well, I put a bristlenose in my cichlid tank two days ago...hes already been killed. What can I use to control algae, seeing as these guys wont leave a pleco alone?

[Shawn84]

Are they fully mature BN

[brotherluv]

I've got an albino gold pleco and 3 flying foxes!  No algae and I use tap water.

[ottawa_fry22]

Bigger the BN the better.  Perhaps try changing up the territory a little to confuse the cichlids so that maybe the need to re-establish their areas will occur at the same time of adding a new BN.  The more rock piles the better.