Pleco

[DeepSeaFishin]

I have a 2 inch pleco living in my 10 gallon tank with my pair of adult cories and 5 bullhead minnows. I have 3 rock formations for the bottom dwellers to hide in, i have him there until my 39 gallon has cycled, i read that they grow according to their tank size, so if he is in my 10, will he stay relativly small?? how big can i keep him in the 39 until he needs a bigger tank?

 

[Spilk]

He'll grow until he dies, and just pay attention to his needs. If you insist on keeping him and moving him to new tanks throughout his life, just make sure he has of plenty of swimming room and that you're keeping his mess clean.

I kept one in my 40gal until he was about 7".

 

[ccg]

My pleco was kept in a 35 gallon for about a year and he has recently been moved to a 55 gallon. He is just a bit over 6'. I also have had the same type of pleco that was bought at the same time and he is only 2.5' and has been kept in the same tanks and fed the same as the other. I believe my small pleco had been kept in a smaller tank at one point (before I got him) and that it may have stunted his growth. Your pleco should now get to big for his tank, although I have seen that was nearly 2feet!

 

[jimbooo]

okay to explain the Myth about growing to the tank size, here goes..

fish secrete a hormone into the water, by measuring the concentration of hormone in the water fish know how much water they are in.

in nature the level is so minute they wont notice it.

when in an aquarium the levels of this hormone are much greater so the fish knows (subconsiously) not to grow too fast.

in reality this means the skeleton growth slows down, hence the fish in a tank is smaller than the fish in nature.

one problem though

the SKELETON growth slows down. the ORGANS keep on growing.

over time the fish is literally bursting out of himself. not a nice way to go.

I'm not preaching as i have a 6 inch bala and a 6 inch plec in a 40 gallon (rio 180) both need new homes, or they will suffer this fate.

Bet the LFS didn't tell you that did they...

 

[Ferris]

I'm guessing your talking about a common Pleco. If so they can grow to anywhere between 12-18 inches and a 55 gal is realistically the min size tank for these fish when full grown. Your 39 gal will be fine for a while though, probably up to 2 years.

 

[keane]

My pleco was kept in a 35 gallon for about a year and he has recently been moved to a 55 gallon. He is just a bit over 6'. I also have had the same type of pleco that was bought at the same time and he is only 2.5' and has been kept in the same tanks and fed the same as the other.

i do hope you mean 6" and 2.5" respectively!!!!

(' = feet, " = inches)

I just couldn't imagine a 6 foot long pleco squished into a 55 gallon tank!!!

steve