i have 8 neon tetras, 1 pleco, 2 silver dollars?

Question

i have a old silver dollar and a baby, the older one eats some of the plecos algae waffers and the pleco keeps chasing the silver dollar around the tank even when there is no algae waffers left, they are in a 3ft tank the pleco hase a castle he can hide in, is the pleco going to hurt or kill the silver dollar ?

Answer 1

Your silver dollars will be fine. They are much quicker than the Pleco and besides the pleco is an algae eater not a carnivore. The problem you will have is that when the silver dollars grow they will most likely kill the Neon tetras. Agression is common among fish but the silver dollars will survive.

Answer 2

Plecos really do have true personalities and I could definitely see one getting aggressive and in the future, possibly deadly if you don't make sure he has his way. Another suggestion for feeding the pleco is to put the algae wafer in at night when you turn off your aquarium lights. Plecos are for the most part mostly night feeders and the other fish are not usually, so he will be able to access the algae wafer without the other fish bothering him. Then the Silver Dollars won't be able to nibble at his food (or probably shouldn't if you are feeding at night) and the Pleco won't feel they are invading his turf and stealing his vittles :)

It's good that he has a castle to hide in. My pleco lives in an old "ship" and he does come out to feed occasionally during the day, but most of his work is done at night. When I have brown algae that forms, usually in a day or two, it is cleared up.

I had been moving him around from tank to tank - as he was not being stressed out by the moves, but once, when I moved him into a tank that didn't have a good hiding spot, he squeezed himself into this little itty bitty castle not at all meant for large plecos and he refused to do anything (including clean the algae). I finally put him back into his original tank with his "ship home" and he's happy again and doing his job. It really is quite humorous how he actually has preferences and a personality.

Answer 3

I would say the silver dollar shouldn't have any problems keeping out of the pleco's way. If the chasing is only around feeding time, it shouldn't be a problem. If it's pretty much constant, add so more hiding places ( a few tall plants so the silver dollar can hide at the top would be good) and see if that helps. If that doesn't stop it, I would replace the trouble making fish. Honestly it's my opinion that some fish are just meaner than others of the same species ("meaner" means territorial etc here).

I would also feed the silver dollars first to distract them, them feed the sinking wafers to the pleco or, since the pleco feeds at night as well as in the day, feed the wafers after lights out when the silver dollars will be far less likely to feed on them.

Answer 4

Not all plecos are herbivores. Many are omnivores or even carnivores.
As someone else mentioned, is it possible you have a chinese algae eater?
http://www.myaquaria.com/albums/diyfwfish/chinese_algae_eater2.jpg
They, and certain plecos, like to suck on flat-sided fish like angels, discus and silverdollars because they like to eat the mucus that these fish produce. If too much of their mucus is removed, it can several stress out the fish and make them more susceptible to injuries, diseases, infections, etc. This way be why he is chasing him around.

Now, I don't know the dimensions of your 3 foot tank - it could be anywhere between 30 and 50 gallons - but it is too small for your silver dollars. Silver dollars are schoolers and they like to be in groups of 5 or more; 2 is too few, and you don't have room for anymore.
The pleco is also too big, probably - most plecos grow well over 12" long and need 100 gallon tanks. Although a select few stay under 6", like bushy noseds, rubber lips, pitbulls, etc - and those plecos would be fine for a 30-50 gallon tank.

In the immediate future, I suggest getting rid of the silver dollars or the pleco.

Answer 5

The pleco could very well suck on the silver dollar's sides. Your tank is too small for your fish though. You should upgrade or get rid of the silver dollars. They get to be monsterous.

Answer 6

He possible could. Are you sure you have a pleco and not a chinese algae eater? They are highly territorial and hate other fish to invade their space. Perhaps you should reconsider the pleco as a needed fish? A couple Mollies of the same sex will keep algae to a minimum and shouldn't bother your other fish.

Answer 7

just make sure that you give the silver dollar plenty of places to hide in case the pleco does try to harm him.he might think hr is food

Answer 8

No. remove the silver funds, gouramis and battling fish. The silver funds get too tremendous for 20 gallons and the anabantids require hotter water. some thing must be ok, yet attempt to save the snail inhabitants down.

Answer 9

yes