How Big?

[catfish_mad]

Hi, just wondering on how big and how quick do the pleco's(the one in my avartar) grow, as he's 8" and in a 4ft tank. How soon would i have to upgrade the tank to house him.

 

[morgan]

Hi, an active Pleco needs to have a tank 4 times it's length, twice it's height and plenty of room from back to front for turning. I have read these statistics at different times. I don't know how fast yours will grow. My Common (Liposarcus Pardalis) grew at an inch a month for the first 7 months but now seems to have maxed out at 12". They seem to grow at different rates. Yours will eventually be very big (it's a Gibby? they can reach 2 - 3 feet) but it might take a while. Sometimes they rest and then start growing again. HTH

 

[KathyM]

Gibbies can reach 18-24" (most often 18" ish), liposarcus pardalis reach 2ft+ (and commonly so). Yours is a gibby (glyptoperichthys gibbiceps), and a lovely one too. Both species tend to grow fast at first, then slow down at about 12-15", but continue growing until they reach their final size.

A 5ft x 2ft x 2ft tank is about the minimum for a fully grown gibby.

 

[catfish_mad]

Cheers thanks guys, didn't know it would grow that fast and so big. i need to get a bigger tank soon anyway as my other fish are growing at an alarming rate.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I would upgrade your tank right now if you can, the plec will grow aorund an inch+ a month until it gets to around 12-15inches as Kathy said (their growth can slow down before then or even keep steadily growing after 15inches- with sailfin and common plecs, it can be kinda hard to predict as each plec is an individual- my female sailfin was opposite, and hardly did any growing when i used to have her in my old 50gal, but since she's been in my 125gal for the last 8months her growth has really started to accelerate again, i expect her to grow quite large).
So yeah, my advice to you is to upgrade as soon as you can- get the most gallons you can posibly afford/fit, as a 5ft by 2ft by 2ft tank (or just under) is really the minimum size for sailfin plecs.

 

[catfish_mad]

Thnaks guys, i'll have to empty the tank abit for now til i can afford the larger tank. but since i had the plec it doesn't seem to have grown much if any. whats the best food for the plecs to eat and i feed cucumber, alge wafers, catfish pellets, bloodworm and he feeds of the plants and bogwood.

 

[KathyM]

Sounds like he's getting a good diet Be prepared for a growth spurt, De Niro didn't grow when he first came (for over 2 months, we were worried). Now he's shooting up.

 

[catfish_mad]

yeah i'm looking forward to the groth spirt it'll be fun. i've took some unwanted fish back to the lfs today as i need the extra room in the tank