Sailfin Pleco Size

[Joemuz]

Hi everyone.
I Bought a sailfin pleco yesterday for £8 and its about 5/6 inch in length.
My tank is 54l and i just wondered how big will it grow and how long will it take to reach its maximum size?
Also i have a friend who says he cuts a slice of cucumber up and pots some wire on it to sink it and his plec go mad for it, is this ok to do and is it healthy for the fish?
I also have a dwarf pleco which has grown abaou 5mm since i have had it and that is about 8 months and i put cucumber in for him and he didnt even touch it.
All the best Joemuz!

 

[nmonks]

My tank is 54l and i just wondered how big will it grow and how long will it take to reach its maximum size?

A six inch catfish is probably a bit too big already for a 54 litre aquarium. Or do you mean a 54 gallon "long" aquarium? (Please try not to use abbreviations reserved for metric units, it's very confusing: "l" after a number means "litres", nothing else.) Anyway, if it's a 54 litre tank it'll need an aquarium at least 4 times that size. Sailfin plecs will get to about full size within four years. They are very fast growing.

Also i have a friend who says he cuts a slice of cucumber up and pots some wire on it to sink it and his plec go mad for it, is this ok to do and is it healthy for the fish?

Yes, it's safe, but be sure and wash off the vegetables you use. Most of the stuff sold is sprayed to keep it insect-free and looking shiny, and while these chemicals may be harmless to us (hopefully, anyway) I doubt they've been tested on catfish. So rinse off the food before you use it. Also, cucumber contains virtually no nutrition even though these catfish love the stuff. I'd suggest using just the skin (which is the most nutritous part) and only use this periodically. Instead, use more startchy and nutritious vegetables: zucchini/courgette, sweet potato, carrot, spinach, frozen peas, and broccoli all seem to be enjoyed. Supplement once or twice a week with algae wafers containing spirulina or some other vegetable protein. Don't overfeed with meaty foods such as prawns and mussels; a few times a month is fine. Finally, be sure and provide some bogwood. Oh, I'm not sure what "wire" friend uses, but don't use anything that will rust or made from copper (both are toxic to fish). Lead weight, sold for weighing down plants, works very well, and a big roll of the stuff costs nothing and will last you for decades.

I also have a dwarf pleco which has grown abaou 5mm since i have had it and that is about 8 months and i put cucumber in for him and he didnt even touch it.

Just goes to show. Some plec species prefer green algae over anything else, while others are somewhat predatory, and like bloodworms and shrimps. A few can survive on practically nothing but wood. So there's variation. Offer a variety of things, and experiment with anything green and clean.

Cheers,

Neale

 

[Joemuz]

Thank a lot neil thats a great help, i better start thinking about replacing my tank then!
I feel realy bad about keeping that fish in my tank now and it will be a few months befor i will be able to affor a bigger aquarium as im only 14 Problem is i just luv it to pices and as soon as i saw the fish in the shop i immideatly asked how much it was and when the ownere replied i said i will take him!!! I would hate to have to take him back Thank a lot though, i will beable to sweettalk my mum and dad if i get enough crimbo money! lol.
cheers, Joemuz

 

[KathyM]

A gibby will need at least 5ft x 2ft x 2ft, and if he's 6" he'll need it soon.