Pleccy problem

So my two little BN's - well one isn't that little anymore are having a bit ofa problem.

The bigger of the two has become an old grouch, mooching around in his cave most of the time, and then when he does come out playing the playground bully at the smaller plec.

He chases him up and down the glass, off the wood etc.

Now it isnt a major problem at the moment, but I have been thinking that I may have to move one of them out if it carries on or gets worse.

I have a spare tank in the kitchen - Clearseas 2ft long, no lights but a lid, and I also have some spare wood etc that could go in there. Is that too small a tank for a single BN? I was thinking I might put a couple of the Plattys in there with him too, just for company.

What's your opinion?

Hey!!! My first question on the new site!

Hi Diana..

we have a B/N in a 2ft tank in the kitchen with 2 gourami for company! He's fine

Have you tried maybe rearranging the big guys cave a bit, throw him off his feet. Might encourage him to be a little more active & less grumpy

I've read that plecs can have problems sharing their territory, especially if it's two males. I'd suggest you try what munchycarrot has said and maybe rearrange the territories a little.

Well... plecs can become grumpy and its normally restricted to their own kind... my male BN is a bully towards the little lady BN.

My solution (hope you tank is big enough to do this) was move one big piece of bogwood to the otherside of the tank, as it happens, plenty of caves there too in my tank, and at plec feeding time, I now divide the cucumber or courgette etc into two, and place themfairly well apart.

He does give a swipe now and again if they do meet, but is not so intolerant as they both have their own patches. Btw, if my snowball shows up, the bully legs it home and the female sneaks over to robn his food as she isnt fussed about bigger plecs

Anyway, hope this helps, as a summary, make two sperate area/territories and see how it goes

He must need his own bachelor pad

can u mix shrimp with other cleaners such as BN'S or will the BN gobble him up?

I might be wrong, but I think Mary has shrimp in her BN tank. I found with the Cherry shrimp that it is best to keep them in a seperate tank until they grow big enough not to be eaten, and wish I had done that before I lost half my stock!