My Beautiful Plec

[tibby25731]

This is Mr Plec. My LFS didn't tell me anything about him when I bought him but I am expecting he will outgrow my 60 litre tank from what I have read! Is he just a common plec? I have to say, i think he is the most beautiful plec I have ever seen, but then i would think that! What do you think? And can anyone tell me how soon I might need to get a bigger tank for him, and how big a tank I should go for? I am new to this but I do know that there is NO WAY Mr Plec will be rehomed, I will just have to find the cash and space for another tank!

Gorgeous, ain't he? Others I have seen have little squinty looking eyes, I think I got the best of the bunch! He is quite friendly too and will suck all round the tank when I switch the light on - bit of a show off I think! He has also taken a fancy to my african dwarf frog and often sits on him, much to the frogs disgust! Mr Plec is king of my tank!

 

[smithrc]

Mr Plec looks like he is a juvinile L001 - Pterygoplichthys joselimaianus

Expect him to get to 12" +

 

[tibby25731]

oh hell. That is big. How big a tank would I need for him? I love him to bits and don't want to lose him. How long will it take before he gets too big for my 60 litre tank do you think? Argh! Damn the LFS, why didn't they tell me? I told them how big the tank was!

 

[Madam Macaw]

oh hell. That is big. How big a tank would I need for him? I love him to bits and don't want to lose him. How long will it take before he gets too big for my 60 litre tank do you think? Argh! Damn the LFS, why didn't they tell me? I told them how big the tank was!

Yuppers, looks just like mine which was sold to me for a 10 gallon tank. I am thinking the same thing you are though - mine is just so personable and he will not be rehomed.
http/www.flickr.com/photos/65976754@N00/...57603802706184/

That was him when I fist got him. He has since been moved to a 55 gallon tank. I really need to get new pics of him.

 

[tibby25731]

Yeah, your plec is just like mine! I am so worried now though, your tank is much bigger than i could fit anywhere in my house.... I am thinking that I may have to just enjoy him when I can and try to rehome him when he gets too big. Don't want to though! What a horrible situation it seems I am going to be in. I guess I had better start looking round for a new home for him Is there a similar plec I could get who wouldn't outgrow my tank? Look at me, looking for a substitute already! But I am struggling to find a bright side here, help me out!

 

[smithrc]

Yeah, your plec is just like mine! I am so worried now though, your tank is much bigger than i could fit anywhere in my house.... I am thinking that I may have to just enjoy him when I can and try to rehome him when he gets too big. Don't want to though! What a horrible situation it seems I am going to be in. I guess I had better start looking round for a new home for him Is there a similar plec I could get who wouldn't outgrow my tank? Look at me, looking for a substitute already! But I am struggling to find a bright side here, help me out!

when they are young they should grow around 1" ever month or so upto about 7-8" then slow down...

a 60L will be too small in a few months really

You'll be looking at something like a 4ft x 2ft x 2ft for his adult size...


As for substitutes - there is a pinned thread of 30+ small plecs that would be better suited to your tank.
A common bristle nose for example would be a great beginner plec that only gets to 5-6" max

 

[tibby25731]

Thank you! Unfortunately there is no chance of me getting a tank that big, I just don't have the space. I will enjoy him while I can and look to rehome him in a few months. In the meantime I will do my research to make sure I don't get my heart broken again!

 

[Elaine2]

I know it's really difficult but you may be better off trying to rehome him now rather than in a few months when you will inevitably have got attached to him. There seem to be a lot of shops selling fish that are either totally unaware of what they are selling or who seem not to care. Unfortunately buyers then either end up in the position you are in or the fish ends up being housed in damaging conditions, usually out of ignorance, not bad intent.

 

[tibby25731]

It's too late, i have been attached to him ever since day one! There is a ray of light - we are about to renovate our house and there is a good chance we will then have space for a 4ft tank..... maybe, just maybe, it will be ready in time.........

 

[Elaine2]

Good luck with it - well worth finding space for a bigger one if you can. Gives you an incentive for getting the renovations done anyway!

 

[tibby25731]

Thanks Elaine!