Gibbiceps Catfish/pleco

[black jack1]

I recently went to a local lfs. I was after a pleco (L001) that grows to around 8 inches. He didn't have that but said that the Gibbiceps catfish/plecos he had grow max around 8 inches. Is this true? I have read that they can grow to around 18 inches. Or is he just trying to get a sale?

 

[Luke_e]

18inches is probably about right.

 

[black jack1]

yeh, i think his argument was the "aquarium conditions" as in they only grow to the top end of their size in the wild. Still 8" don't sound right.

 

[Luke_e]

Well if you keep a fish which has the potential to grow to 18" in an 18" tank, it wont grow in length to that size as it stunts the body growth, but the internal organs keep growing and this usually causes an early death for the fish thats why its necessary to always provide plenty of exess space for large fish such as 18" Gibbiceps.
Thumbs up to you though for checking on the net and on here, as many people are 'tricked' into buying a fish due to bad advise.

 

[plecoguy]

ya, nice job for checkin it out first. i had a gibby that got about a foot in length before i gave it away...it didnt take but a year to get that large too. if you are looking for a smaller plec that eats algae, go with a bristlenose, or a rubbernose plec!

 

[black jack1]

Ok so thats out of the picture. I was actually going to pick it up there and then but i knew i had to check again. Anyway, my girl thinks bristlenoses are scary looking (with bristles) and i don't know much about the rubbernose. Do you know anything about the butterfly pleco? I hear it changes colour depending on the surface and it doesn't grow too big...

 

[The-Lion]

Hi, black jack if you’re in the UK a search under its scientific name Glyptoperichthys joselimaianus on tropical fish finder there are a few lfs stocking them.
I have two got to say they are a brilliant fish very active but they do grow fast, brought mine in November at barely an inch they are both near and about the eight inches the planet catfish web site say they'll grow to.

 

[black jack1]

Hi, black jack if you’re in the UK a search under its scientific name Glyptoperichthys joselimaianus on tropical fish finder there are a few lfs stocking them.
I have two got to say they are a brilliant fish very active but they do grow fast, brought mine in November at barely an inch they are both near and about the eight inches the planet catfish web site say they'll grow to.

Thanks. I had a check on the fish finder and the nearest guys with the L001 are in London/essex/yorkshire...I'm from Birmingham

 

[The-Lion]

lol thats always the way good luck on your search

 

[KathyM]

There were some at my LFS today (West Yorkshire). Luckily the guy there was honest about how big they grow. I brought a gibby home instead though