Do Red Cherries eat their babies?

[Oleg]

Hi All,

I am going to keep Red Cherries in the tank with plenty of Otos, one big Ancistrus (Bushynose Pleco) and Clown Pleco. I've read on this forum that these guys will not eat Red Cherries, even their babies.

Will adult Red Cherry eat a new born one? Have anyone seen this?

Thanks!

Oleg

[Bradimus]

Red Cherries will not catch and eat their offspring. They might eat one that died on some other cause.

If your "Clown Pleco" is a Peckoltia species, it will definitely eat baby shrimp. These are omnivores and will eat anything they can catch.

[Oleg]

If your "Clown Pleco" is a Peckoltia species, it will definitely eat baby shrimp. These are omnivores and will eat anything they can catch.

I don't think he is Peckoltia. I looked at the photos of Peckoltias and they have smaller mouth than my pleco.
May be mine is not Clown, at least my LFS was selling it under this name.
I have a "regular" pleco as well, that guy has much smaller mouth (in proportion to body) and grows very fast.
My clown pleco is only 2-3 cm and doesn't grow any more. Here is his picture. Unfortunately I couldn't take a picture of his mouth, may be next time. I cannot imagine him chasing red cherries or even their babies, but who knows.

[Bradimus]

Looks like a Chaetostoma, maybe C. thomsoni. Around here, they are sold as 'Bulldog plecos', 'Rubber plecos', or 'Rubbernose plecos'. These are also omnivores, but prefer soft vegetable matter. I don't think they hunt, but may take small live food optimistically. If someone is eating your baby shrimp, this is the most likely candidate.