[BrentD]

We're converting our 500 gallon office tank from a generic aquarium to a discus tank. We have a big plecko, almost 1 foot long, that was in our prior tank. I'm wondering if he would be OK with the discus, or if he's better off moving to a friend's goldfish pond? I'm a little worried about his size compared to the discus.

 

[ichthyogeek]

Sounds like you've got a common pleco. The problem with plecos, is that they're quite good at converting food to waste. And if they're not fed enough, they'll go after the slime of other fish (this is from reading anecdotes). So it's really a tossup. I think it would be better in the goldfish pond, but only as long as there's no way it can escape into local waterways.

Better plecos to think about: zebra plecs, bristlenose plecs, and maybe those gold-spotted plecs as well.

 

[discuspaul]

A foot long pleco would seriously intimidate & stress discus, not to mention the risk of it taking a liking to discus' slime coats.
Take it out.

 

[BrentD]

Yeah, I think the big guy is going to the goldfish pond. Only way he could escape into the local waterways would be if a bird carried him about 30 miles.