75 or 125 for a growing pleco?

[reedm063]

i currently have a 7in common pleco in my 55 gallon. i need a bigger tank but im stuck on if i get a 75 right now how long could the pleco be kept in the 75 before it out grows it. i dont have 600 for a 125 right now. what should i do? ive been in the hobbie almost 2 years.

 

[Guyb93]

You need to rehome your pleco !
As sad as is seems these plecos can reach 3ft in length and no commercial tank will house this .
At minimum you need 125g but even then just rehome

 

[Circus]

If you are very insistent on keeping your pleco, get a 6 foot or larger tank. A 75 gallon is the same length as a 55, and so would not be that much better. If you are not willing to get a 6ft or larger, you should see about rehoming your pleco.

 

[reedm063]

is it easier to rehome a small pleco or a larger one?

 

[Circus]

is it easier to rehome a small pleco or a larger one?

Some shops will give you credit for a fish you can no longer support. Go to a reputable shop, one where they ask the right questions before selling it. For a pleco over a foot long I would expect a $20 credit at my shop, and they would likely sell it for $50. I would say that you will have equal difficulty find a home for it yourself, if it is large or small, especially if you are concerned about the tank size of the person taking it in. If you do it privately, charge a rehoming fee, even if it is a small one. People won't value it if they get it for free.

 

[PlasticGalaxy]

is it easier to rehome a small pleco or a larger one?

Some local shops will take them regardless of size. Being honest, big, bugger-off sized ones are easier to rehome within the range of around £10-£20 (~$15-$28) since people with big tanks will take the opportunity. Of course though, I wouldn't wait for them to get to a big enough size for them to be that kind of spectacle, since it could take a couple of years. My sailfin is just over a year now, and he's only 6.5 inches long.

Some shops will give you credit for a fish you can no longer support. Go to a reputable shop, one where they ask the right questions before selling it. For a pleco over a foot long I would expect a $20 credit at my shop, and they would likely sell it for $50. I would say that you will have equal difficulty find a home for it yourself, if it is large or small, especially if you are concerned about the tank size of the person taking it in. If you do it privately, charge a rehoming fee, even if it is a small one. People won't value it if they get it for free.

Entirely agree with this! However, do note that some shops (like my local one) won't give you anything back for your fish no matter how much they could sell it for. Particularly sleazy shops will take some real nice fish off your hands hoping they don't have to trade anything off for it.

 

[PlasticGalaxy]

Sorry to double post, but if you're able to, I would encourage you to keep the plec if you can get a nice big tank for it, because they are truly stunning fish to raise. This one's a sailfin, but I've heard people's tales about how they've taught their commons to enjoy getting pet like a cat.

How big is your current tank? I assume around 4ft or a little less, so there should be some time before it truly outgrows this tank. If your tank isn't already heavily stocked with other fish, make plenty of swimming room for it if you haven't already with some big caves. You can buy ceramic ones, pre-built caves, or slabs of slate and rocks that you can build up for your own unique design. If you're be able to get the 125 within the near future (or even bigger if you find one for a similar price), I would consider keeping the plec. As I've already said, they are absolutely beautiful fish and wonderful to raise when they're housed properly.

 

[Circus]

Entirely agree with this! However, do note that some shops (like my local one) won't give you anything back for your fish no matter how much they could sell it for. Particularly sleazy shops will take some real nice fish off your hands hoping they don't have to trade anything off for it.

Yeah, some shops are more than happy to get one out from under you. My LFS does about 30% credit most of the time for good looking fish. They will even let you set up an account if there is nothing in stock you really want. They are a small chain pet store (3 or 4 locations), and have a wide variety of items. If there aren't any fish I really want, I will pick up a bag of cat food or litter.

Even my local Petco only charges $5 for adoptions on medium and small fish and $12 to $15 for large and extra large fish.