Jeff Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 (edited) I think it's pretty clear how much more popular Plecos are than shrimp. This isn't a slight against Plecos. I'm just generally curious. Can someone please enlighten me? I don't understand. What is it I'm missing? I've never kept one, so I'd love to know what all the rage is, about them. Shrimp come in all sorts of colors, so it can't possibly be that. Edited March 30, 2022 by Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antonio Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 Lol shrimp can be expensive and... get eaten. Theyre also highly sensitive to water parameter swings. Plecos just survive better. I love my shrimp but I understand the love of plecos 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nyssa Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 Shrimp make me really apprehensive because of how sensitive they can be, and plecos are pretty much bullet proof which is why I went with them. I want to get shrimp eventually, but I find them intimidating since they're not exactly beginner friendly. Plus there is that whole being a really expensive tasty treat for my fish that's a bit of a deterrent as well... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ange Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 Definitely thirding the durability and minimal predation. I've had both but tend to keep my shrimp as species only. The only fish I've ever kept with fish are Neos and Amanos. I used to have Caridinas but I might have had a heart attack if they were placed in a mixed tank. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anewbie Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 My hongsloi and even the borelli would happily eat the shrimp; so far they haven't touched the plecos (though the nannacara does eat all the pleco frys). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laritheloud Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 I only have a bristlenose pleco, but their personalities are amazing. They're not shy at all and very industrious. I really enjoy having a pleco! I love my shrimp, too, but they're just entirely different creatures and shrimp need a bit more specialized care to really see them thrive. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dancing Matt Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 I have had a hard time with shrimp due to low Ph water, I don't really want to buffer it (lazy) so I'd be more likely to get a fish (pleco) over shrimp. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefty o Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 cheap, and easier to keep alive. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anon Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 Time has a lot to do with it. Plecos have been in the hobby forever and can be found in all major pet stores. Shrimp are relatively new to the hobby. Shrimp are also more sensitive. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted March 31, 2022 Share Posted March 31, 2022 (edited) Pleco have stunning colours come in sizes from 1in to 2ft so their something for everyone one and have great personality I have been keeping and breed them for 20 years it plecos over shrimp every time for me Edited March 31, 2022 by Colu 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guppysnail Posted March 31, 2022 Share Posted March 31, 2022 They have huge personalities. Are beautiful. Bristlenose keep my tank amazingly clean I do not have to do windows. They are catfish so extremely hardy where shrimp are touchy and harder to establish. I love mine 🥰 mom, dad and a family photo 4 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreaW Posted March 31, 2022 Share Posted March 31, 2022 @Guppysnail ~ I've never seen such beautiful Plecos as you have! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardedbillygoat1975 Posted March 31, 2022 Share Posted March 31, 2022 I think there’s a lot of variety and they can fit a nitch in a tank that shrimp can’t - cichlids will eat shrimp, but will tolerate a pleco. Plus they’ve got faces only a pleco mom or dad can love! So I’m kind of crazy when it comes to plecos. So far I’m only keeping ancistrus but some day will extend into hypancistrus and panaqolus L# plecos. Now I breed Neocaridina and 3 varieties so I’m a huge fan and want to setup a Caridina tank but the personality of a pleco maybe like a bulldog or ugly cute dog applies here. Here’s my latest baby so that’s my deal. 2 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Widgets Posted March 31, 2022 Share Posted March 31, 2022 It is because Plecostomus is more fun to say than shrimp. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bev C Posted March 31, 2022 Share Posted March 31, 2022 (edited) I have only had 2 pelcos … my first one lived a long time ,, my reason they are easier to find and easier then shrimp take care of and i tried shrimp when i started out and they was dinner for my fish pelco might only show mostly at night or wee morning hours ,, with less light ,, but they have a personality and help keep the tank clean .. I love feeding them fresh vegetables 🥗 my first one use come to me and eat his cucumbers out of my hand ,, my second pelco is not as brave but he comes out when he sees the zucchini piece or Rapashy Edited March 31, 2022 by Bev C 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scapexghost Posted March 31, 2022 Share Posted March 31, 2022 Plecos can be kept with (almost) anything, from neon tetras to african cichlids. Shrimp can't. Also, some plecos are great algae eaters. A single bristlenose can keep most aquariums diatom free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guppysnail Posted March 31, 2022 Share Posted March 31, 2022 On 3/30/2022 at 11:37 PM, Bev C said: my first one lived a long time This is another pleco benefit. They live for many more years than shrimp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drewzero1 Posted March 31, 2022 Share Posted March 31, 2022 Plecos are often kept for control of surface/glass algae which shrimp aren't so good at. (Personally I have a couple of snails and a magfloat scraper to do the same job.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandon p Posted March 31, 2022 Share Posted March 31, 2022 Nothing eats my pelcos but everything eats my shrimp expect in a tank that has plecos a 12 neons. Shrimp are try breed like crazy in the mini discus tank but l have eggs but no increase in shrimp yet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Posted March 31, 2022 Share Posted March 31, 2022 Plecos are practically immortal. I prefer shrimp myself, but yeah... plecos are like Superman having drank from the Fountain of Youth with Jesus as his best friend. I had a pleco as a kid and everything in the tank died (give a 10 year old control of a 10-gallon, go figure), except for the pleco. It literally sat in that tank without water changes, by itself, and continued to grow. It came to a point where we had to give it away because I was scared of it. IT WAS ALWAYS WATCHING... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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