Baby Pleco

[BethK]

I would take a picture but he is either too fast or always hiding

I am not sure what type he is but he is that very common darkbrown/black with whitish specs on, that grow to about 13inches. He is just under an inch in length, if that.

How old do you think he is? I only got him yesterday but he seems pretty happy. I have 2 broken type ceramic pots, which it seems to hid in or under. He does like the tank plants and only comes out in the dark.

I have those algae pellets for catfish, so I put qtr of one in the tank but he hasn't touched it. Do they nibble on them or do they dissolve and he takes it from the water?

How long does it usually take Plecos to grow more than 3 inches?

They had the same breed but in white, which I though I would get one at a later date but I know they get pretty big, so will not buy another. Will they be ok on their own with other fish, or will they need another to keep them company?

Sorry about all the questions

 

[Wills]

He should get to about 3 inches in 6 weeks, adult in 10 months to a year. What size tank is he in? Im assuming he is in a tank for him to grow to a point, if thats the case how come you didnt go for a smaller plec species like bristlnose or rubber lip? Both sell for around the same price and are not going to cause issues.

But yeah tank size pls

Wills

 

[BethK]

I got him, as the guy in the shop said it would take him a good year to grow 4 inches (which I am now thinking is wrong). I did want a smaller catfish but he said it wouldn't go well with my betta and said this one would.

32cm x 23cm x 35cm (if i remb rightly or go with an 18ltr). I am planning to get a bigger tank within the following month though.

 

[Jonty]

There are no Catfish suitable for an 18l, except for maybe Pygmy Corys and Otos. You'll need a 250l tank at least 4 foot long long-term.

 

[BethK]

That's what I'm upgrading to, a 1 meter tank, which I'm getting next month.

 

[Wills]

Ah right good news on the upgrade but unfortunatly its still not big enough for a common pleco, a 4x2x2 might be but its a minimum. There are tons of plec species suitable for that size tank I would perhaps try and rehome this plec and re asses the situation when you get the 4 foot tank, if you want to keep the little tank set up and want a catfish go for ottos like jonty said they are tiny little pleco esc fish that stay tiny and suitable for the little tank, although if your going for cleaning fish in that size tank I would just get an algae scrubber as all fish impact on your stocking plan.

Wills

 

[BethK]

A friend has said he will take on my pleco, when it is a bit bigger, which is good (phew). I am a little miffed about the aquarium guy and I knew I should have stuck by my guns

Will the ottos be ok with a betta?

 

[Wills]

If its a betta tank I would just stick with him and some shrimp, the otto needs a group of 4 or 5 so would over load the tank with the betta. Some snails could be an other option.

Wills

 

[jacko32]

Ah right good news on the upgrade but unfortunatly its still not big enough for a common pleco, a 4x2x2 might be but its a minimum. There are tons of plec species suitable for that size tank I would perhaps try and rehome this plec and re asses the situation when you get the 4 foot tank, if you want to keep the little tank set up and want a catfish go for ottos like jonty said they are tiny little pleco esc fish that stay tiny and suitable for the little tank, although if your going for cleaning fish in that size tank I would just get an algae scrubber as all fish impact on your stocking plan.

Wills

how do you know its a common plec ?

 

[BethK]

This is him, he is tiny and very hard to get a pic of him (I didn't want to hit the tank to move him). Please excuse the water marks on the tank side

 

[jacko32]

has it got any white on the tips of its tail or dorsal fin ?

 

[BethK]

Fins and tail have no white on them

 

[jacko32]

Fins and tail have no white on them

was just thinking it could be a ancistrus if it is it will only grow to about 6" have you tried googling ancistrus to see if you can match it with a picture on there

 

[BethK]

It looks like this one but the mouth is slightly diff, more rounder and no bristles

 

[jacko32]

sounds like you have a ancistrus to me in which case you may not need to get rid of it if your up grading