How fast do Pleco's grow?

[Vegan Peaches]

I picked up a common plec a week ago, they were doing the 'throw it in a bucket and let it die, no one wants it' thing and I felt sorry for the little guy... so I took it home, and it was in quarentine for 3 days but my quarentine tank had no filter and the water got really bad really fast; I introduced him to my 15 gal and he seems fine, but he will outgrow that eventually, especially with all the other fish in there growing as well. It's not quite overstocked yet, as there's 12 inches of fish / 15 gals, but I realize the plec will get as long as 18 inches, and the cores 3. So basically, i need to know how long it will take my plec to grow an extra three inches so I can have a new tank ready for him by then ... I've been meaning to get a much larger tank anyways, I guess this will just reinforce the need Gotta get that money first, though...

 

[lizard]

I don't think they're rapid growers. I don't have an inches per month figure for you, but when I had a little common plec, he didn't grow much in the couple months I had him. You should have a least a few months, probably longer, before he needs a bigger tank.

Pamela
aka Married Lizard

 

[Ell-Ess-Dee]

Depends on a lot of factors, but basically slow. Think you should be fine for a year or 2 in a 15gallon so plenty of time to save

 

[smithrc]

our common is 18 months old and he's about 10".

he started his life in a 15us gal tank - and was only in that for about 4 months.

if he's bigger than 6" - i'd put him in a bigger tank