Pleco Growth Rate?

[[email protected]]

hi i brought some common plecs the other day and i was wondering how fast they grow?
i cant get a straight answer. they are about 3-4 inches at the moment. i feed them algae waffers, zuchini(sorry about the spelling)and they tear my plants to bits. will the size of my tank have anything to do with there growth rate?
also is it possible to breed a albino bristle nose with a common bristle nose cattie?, i want a hybrid.
thanks in advance

 

[Ben M]

hi, the plecs will grow to about 2ft long. i don't know about their growth rate, but obviously, in a small tank they will be stunted. i believe that you can breed the albino bn with the normal one.

 

[JenCliBee]

hi i brought some common plecs the other day and i was wondering how fast they grow?
i cant get a straight answer. they are about 3-4 inches at the moment. i feed them algae waffers, zuchini(sorry about the spelling)and they tear my plants to bits. will the size of my tank have anything to do with there growth rate?
also is it possible to breed a albino bristle nose with a common bristle nose cattie?, i want a hybrid.
thanks in advance

Commons growth rate is anything between 8-11 inches within the first 12 months of purchase providing the tank and diet is suitable, growth rate is determined by tank size and by asking that question im presuming you already know the tank is 2 small for them??.

What size tank is it?.


As to the common BN and the albino BN, they are both the same species just different colour morph, you want get a hybrid but will usually produce both albino and common brown in there spawns.

 

[plecostomus-mad]

yup, agreed with pest control, they will be big plecs.

depending on diet and water conditions commons grow quite quick really, and will need a nice big tank to house them.i would say they will double in size in 8 months max. i think by the time they are 2 1/2 years old they will be close on 20 inches.

i love common plecs, they are such characters and have great personalities......i wish i could house some but even my 4ft tank is too small

hi fishy jake!

 

[[email protected]]

well there in a 150ltr tank at the moment but when the get big ive got a 2000ltr spa, im putting them in there with my oscars,is there any thing i should specific i should feed them?

 

[JenCliBee]

yup, agreed with pest control, they will be big plecs.

depending on diet and water conditions commons grow quite quick really, and will need a nice big tank to house them.i would say they will double in size in 8 months max. i think by the time they are 2 1/2 years old they will be close on 20 inches.

i love common plecs, they are such characters and have great personalities......i wish i could house some but even my 4ft tank is too small

hi fishy jake!

Hi mate

The rate is uaully after the initiall burst in 12 months is around 1 inch or so every 12 mnths, some a little faster some can be a little slower.

well there in a 150ltr tank at the moment but when the get big ive got a 2000ltr spa, im putting them in there with my oscars,is there any thing i should specific i should feed them?

Feeding wise is everything and everything lol, keep to veg/algae based diet with abit of protein like muscles and bloodworm etc etc as a treat say once or twice a week.

 

[plecostomus-mad]

well there in a 150ltr tank at the moment but when the get big ive got a 2000ltr spa, im putting them in there with my oscars,is there any thing i should specific i should feed them?

algea wafers, cat pellets, dry foods, cucumber, potato. do you have bog wood? they gnaw on this also to help digest there food and take fibre from the wood.

Feeding wise is everything and everything lol, keep to veg/algae based diet with abit of protein like muscles and bloodworm etc etc as a treat say once or twice a week.

mine are rather spoilt they get fresh veg everyday along with pellets and algae wafers. they get bloodworm 3 times a week

 

[[email protected]]

havent got any wood in there at the moment will put some in there, last time i put it in there my tank went yellow due to the tanins in the wood. but now i hear that my local dealer has a carborn that removes that yellow tinge.

 

[plecostomus-mad]

havent got any wood in there at the moment will put some in there, last time i put it in there my tank went yellow due to the tanins in the wood. but now i hear that my local dealer has a carborn that removes that yellow tinge.

no need for carbon really, just wash the wood with warm water until all loose mud and dirt have come off and soak it in the bath with very hot water for a day or two.any tannins released after this will be removed during water changes. if the water does turn yellowish, just do a 25 water change every other day and it will clear.

 

[[email protected]]

ok cool i'll give it a go, i was told that it impossible to remove tanins, maybe it was a selling tactic?

 

[plecostomus-mad]

the wood will release some tannins but not enough to really discolor the water, once it has been in the aquarium for a while it slows down but will always release some.

 

[fishnovice]

ok cool i'll give it a go, i was told that it impossible to remove tanins, maybe it was a selling tactic?

My wood is still releasing tannins after 7 months though not as bad as initially. I just do weekly water changes to keep colour down to pale yellow. Doesn't harm fish

 

[Darkstar]

ok cool i'll give it a go, i was told that it impossible to remove tanins, maybe it was a selling tactic?

Yep your pretty much right, the idea that you can stick it in a bucket for a day or two and that'll sovle it is completely false. It'll take years before leaching stops to a point that you don't notice it...increasing the rate of your water changes will help, but the wood will always leach tannins to some extent.
Carbon is good for removing it, but Seachen Purigen is much much better and rechargeable too.

 

[Timmy_Bee]

Im sure someone told me that the tannins can be good for the fish? is this complete bull?
I've had my wood for about 1 1/2 months and i dont notice the colour - frequent water changes help!