Platties/Sailfin Pleco in a 10 gallon.

Question
QUESTION: Hello. I have a 10 gallon aquarium that I have had just over a year. Previously I kept 2 guppies and 2 Platties in it with an Albino Plecostomus. But both guppies and 1 Platty have died in recent months. Currently it has a small, Sailfin Plecostomus, (The Albino has gotten to be approx. 6 to 7 inches long and has been moved into a 55 gallon aquarium with a 4 to 5 inch long Oscar). In addition to the Sailfin Plec, it also contains 4 Platties. My question is, are there too many Platties in the tank to live comfortably? One of the Platties, has resided in that tank for almost the entire year + that I have owned it. The other three were bought last night. Can the four Platties and Sailfin Pleco live comfortably in that tank together, or should some be moved to a separate tank?

ANSWER: Hi Larissa
Four platies in the tank is fine, but the sailfin pleco isn't.  They grow over 18+ inches long, and keeping him in a 10 gallon tank is only going to stunt him, which is not healthy at all for the fish.  And, 2 plecos in a 55 gallon with an oscar isn't good either.  Hopefully you have another large tank for the sailfin?  If not, I'd consider taking him back.  The tank is overstocked with him in there.

Hope that helps!  Let me know if you have more questions.

Christy

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: There are not two Plecos in the 55 gallon tank. The Sailfin is my brother's fish, he is planning to get a bigger aquarium later for the Sailfin when it is bigger. There are only three Platties now with the sailfin. Will the sailfin be ok for a few weeks or a month or two?

Answer
I was referring to 2 plecos if you moved that one over to the 55 with the other pleco and the oscar.

The sailfin should be ok for that amount of time.  Just monitor the water quality closely.  They do put out a lot of waste.  And be sure to supplement his diet with algae wafers, shrimp pellets, zucchini, romaine lettuce.  They usually clean the algae pretty good and run out of food.

Christy