Is Rescue Pleco Stunted?

[**sarahp**]

I rescued a pair of common plecos about 18months ago.

I've managed to rehome one and kept the other as he was such a happy chap

I'm as positive as I can be that he has not grown in the time that I've had him. I've just been looking back at the posts I put about him when I first got him and he really hasnt changed at all.

He lives in a fairly big tank 4ft x 2ft x 2ft - twice the size of what I rescued him from. I change 25/30% water every week, he's well fed on fresh veggies, pellets and they all get live blood worm or daphnia 2 or 3 times a month.

Can I assume that if he was going to re-start growing he would have done by now??

 

[xingumike]

What size is it now?

Is it a common as opposed to a common bn?

 

[**sarahp**]

Hi

yep definitely common ( you id'ed him P. disjunctivus )

he's 8 or 9 inches including his tail.

I was told he was 2 yrs old when I got him and I've had him 18 months

He seems quite chubby - he just hasnt grown I compare him to a thermometre thats stuck on the tank where he hangs out and he's no longer past it than he always was

 

[xingumike]

ahh yes..

well the growth does slow down when it reaches that kind of size from my experience but I would have expected some growth in the last 18 .

I have read somewhere that they become more carnivorous in their diet requirements the larger they get, can't for the life of me find where I read that at the moment, but perhaps try a little more protein in it's diet.

they go crazy for prawns, just defrosts one or two in some tank water and drop it in near him or rubberband to a rock, see how it goes down.

dont leave it in the tank for more than say 12 hours, goes bad and affects water quality relatively quickly.

looks very healthy though.

 

[star4]

Hi I have rescued to common pleco's they have grown nearly an inch in the month I have them. (now 15" long).They have either grown or stretched out as they were in a small tank. I have been feeding mine JMC catfish pellets they are quite meaty and mine love them.

 

[**sarahp**]

OK - thanks for the info guys will try the prawns and the other variety of pellets and see if he likes them better

TBH its not mega important cos he has a home for life (unless I peg it first ) was just interested to know really

 

[star4]

Some information I have recently found out (but you may already know) is these plecos need some bogwood to chew at to help digestion. I couldnt tell from your pictures if you had some in the tank or it was in the background.

He is a lovely looking fish