Plecos and cory compatability

[Fishstick]

Hi all,

Does any more experienced aquarists have any info on L204 flash/emperor pleco and corydoras compatability? I have 1 pleco and 5 cories in a 46g bowfront planted tank, and I keep seeing strange wounds appear on my cories(lost a few already) - not sure if its a parasite problem or or my pleco is attacking them. I was under the impression that plecos are only aggressive towards other plecos and not really any other fish but I have observed my pleco charging my cories from time to time. I fear that when the lights go off the pleco becomes even more aggressive, and I am unable to observe this.

The wound appears as a thin red line on the cory's body that comes and goes every now and then. I do not believe it is a bacterial or viral infection as my cories act fine and their barbels are not eroded. Furthermore my water parameters are normal and I have been doing constant WC. Hoping to hear from more experienced aquarists on this issue.

Thanks for responses.

[koolman]

I keep pleco and cories together in a tank. I dont see any problem with them.

[Fishstick]

Thanks for the reply. Not sure if its relevant but I keep peppered cories with the L204. I still see some chasing going on every now and then though.

[DoubleDutch]

Read about these "wounds" earlier (peppered too), but don't think the plec is causing this. Mine can be chasing corys when fed. Could it be it is hungry?

[Fishstick]

Update after 1 week:

Wounds still appearing on cories, pleco is doing fine. I lost a bunch of harlequins and congos to a virus in my tank but so far plec and cories seem unaffected. Corys active as usual and pleco looks perfectly fine. No idea what is going on.

I do believe that the pleco isn't hungry. I drop an algae wafer every now and then for him and he does come out when normal flake food drops to the bottom. Barbels on corys are still long and healthy so I have no idea.

[Urban Aquaria]

Do you have any sharp rocks (ie. lava rocks with sharp surfaces and edges) in the tank? That might be causing the scratches and wounds too.

[Fishstick]

No sharp rocks - only 2 large pieces of wood, of which one has been colonized by my L204 who doesn't let anyone near it, not even my amanos.

I do use regular aquarium gravel instead of sand, which I understand to be somewhat not too appropriate for corys, but I doubt that's causing anything.