Common Plec

[snakequeen]

Hi there
I was just wondering the minimum tank requirements for a common plec?
I know they grow big but unsure of exactly how big
Thanks
Eve

 

[nmonks]

The problem is there's no single "common plec", and the species you get will depend somewhat on where you are. But the most commonly sold species are members of the genus Pterygoplichthys, and these can easily reach 45 cm under aquarium conditions.

Recommended tank size for these would be upwards of 250 litres, and certainly nothing less than 120 cm in length.

Cheers, Neale

 

[snakequeen]

Its a Hypostomus Plecostomus
Dont know if that helps

 

[nmonks]

Are you sure? This species is almost completely absent from the UK trade. I haven't seen this species in 25 years of keeping tropical fish. Almost all the fish sold as "Hypostomus plecostomus" are nothing of the sort.

It is very easy to check. Look at the dorsal fin. Count the fin rays. There's usually one big thick one at the front, and then six or seven thinner ones behind it. Pterygoplichthys have many more, typically more than a dozen.

If by some miracle you actually do have Hypostomus plecostomus, then that's a species that gets to around 30 cm, and would probably be happy enough in a 200 litre system, though slightly more space would be useful.

Cheers, Neale

Its a Hypostomus Plecostomus
Dont know if that helps

 

[snakequeen]

This is a pic of it

 

[nmonks]

As I said, this is Pterygoplichthys. Not sure which species; there are several very similar species in the trade. In any case, it'll get to ~45 cm under aquarium conditions.

Cheers, Neale

 

[snakequeen]

So not advisable to keep it in a 147 litre tank then?
Not bought him yet but was going to but thought i should check on here first.
Hes only 3 inches long at the moment

 

[nmonks]

You can certainly put a 3-inch Pterygoplichthys in a 147-litre tank, but be under no illusions re: how fast these things grow. It could easily be full size within twelve months. Obviously a big fish creates a lot of ammonia, but plecs are notoriously "disruptive" as well, destroying plants, shifting gravel, and producing lots of solid waste (faeces as well as shredded vegetables and bogwood chippings).

Cheers, Neale

So not advisable to keep it in a 147 litre tank then?
Not bought him yet but was going to but thought i should check on here first.
Hes only 3 inches long at the moment

 

[snakequeen]

Ok thanks for the info.
Its given me lots to think about.