Plec Issue - Advice Needed Please!

Hi all,

Couple of quick queries about my Plec that I was hoping someone could give me some advice on.

1. I've had my Plec for almost 5 years now. When I bought it, it was real small, maybe 5cm or so and now it's up around 20-21cm long. I have a Juwel Rio 180 (101cm long x 50cm high x 41cm wide) and whilst I think it looks like it's got plenty of room to swim around in, I just wanted to see what anyone else thought, is it getting too big for my tank??
I'm afraid I don't know what exactly what type of Plec it is, if anyone can i.d. it from the attached pic that'd be greatly appreciated too.

2. If it's not outgrowing my tank, is there anyway I can stop it thrashing around near the base of my plants and wood decor? I've got sand rather than gravel and it doesn't half shift some sand when it's wiggling leaving me lots of craters to fill in!
I guess there isn't a specific place for it to go hide under, could this be the problem? Should I provide a hidey hole for it to hide out in, like a half drain pipe or similar?

Any advice you can give would be much appreciated, thanks in advance!

It's hard to tell with the lighting but if his base is brown and the markings are black hes most likely a common plec and will grow to the 36-48cm range. Do you have any idea what you paid for him its often a lot cheaper than most others or what color are his markings and eyes?

Thanks for your reply!

I too had been thinking it was a common plec but had never had anyone else confirm it. Like you say, the lighting isn't the best, but the colours in the photo are pretty accurate actually, It is dark brown with tan markings.
I think I remember paying about £7 or £8 but as it was almost 5 years ago I'm not certain, it wasn't more than a tenner.

Its a Pterygoplichthys joselimaianus (also L001). IMO your fish is at the very limit of being comfortable in your tank, and as said, should continue to grow and will need a larger tank soon.

Yes it looks just like my L001. They are clumsy and do grow fairly big, mine is approaching 12 in including tail now. My advice would be:
1. Upgrade tank size to at least 4ft. Had to do this with mine as he could hardly move around in a 3ft without relandscaping the tank as he grew bigger
2. Change the sand to fine gravel bottom. Big plecs will raise a sandstorm every time they swish their tails.
3. Get him some kind of cave. Mine sleeps in a 14in piece of plastic semicircular pipe right in the middle of his tank so he can come out at either end.

The effort and cost is well worth it as these are lovely friendly plecs. Mine gets on with all tankmates, is very active at night and even ventures out in daylight sometimes. A favourite fish (yes I do spoil him)and great fun to watch.