what size is sexually mature?

[sushi]

Does anyone know what size a pleco has to be beforw it's sexually mature. I'm pretty sure one is a gibbiceps and the other two are Unidentified. I'm in nz and they don't tend to lable them very well at the lfs I go to.
MY "gibbiceps is about 4" maybe and the other two are about 2". THat's inc their tails etc. Would they be sexually mature?

Also, the two with no Id, the second one I bought was bigger than the first. Now the first has rapidly cought up to the second. Is the different sizing a hint to their sex?

 

[smithrc]

it depends what they are - a rough idea would be 3/4 of their full size... some might be more - some might be less.

gibbiceps = 18" approx when fully grown - are you thinking of having 2

 

[Tempestuousfury]

From what I've read, it's nearly impossible to get plecs to breed without their normal conditions. However, that was an old book and maybe you're choosing a variety that's easier to breed.

If you're getting multiple plecs, some of them can be very territorial, so watch out for that.

Good luck.

 

[sushi]

the gibbiceps is really pretty and yeah I'd love to breed him/her. When they get too big, either I'll be able to afford a huge tank for them or I'll sort something out when I get to it. It'll be a while yet i imagine.

THe other two I've got are only about 2 - 3". I don't think they're going to get huge cause they've hardly grown in the last month or two where as the gibb has quadrupled in size in about 1 month. It'll be more logical to breed the small ones. They mustn't be too hard cause my lfs has always got new babies in. But then, I'm not the expert!!!!
Have you bred plecos. What do I need to do. Do you know any ways to sex them. I've read that the male/female (I can't remember) is larger. Since 1 pleco rapidly caught up to the other one, I was hoping they were oppisite sexes.
Thanks for any advice

 

[smithrc]

you need to know what ones you've got... we've just bought 3 chocolate zebras to try and breed (as a side line, i a comunity tank) we've setup a tank that will be a species tank for the real zebras when we can get some / afford some.

As for sexing, again it depends on what youve got for ease... have you got a piccy? or have a look on planetcatfish.com

 

[sushi]

I looked at planet catfish. I was told to look under the L ones (sorry, can't remember what it's called, but it's the group wiht the most under it).
Anyway, the photo of the juvinile gibbiceps is the only one that looks remotely like my larger pleco. I assumed that mine being only 1/5 of it's adult size, would count it as a juvinile.
So yeah, I think it's a gibbi. I have no idea what the others are though. I'll have to ask my lfs.

 

[Oddball]

If the two unidentified plecos come under the label of plec or common plec then it would be quite hard to track down the exact species as about sixteen or seventeen plecos can be sold under this name. (i know this from personal experience) this can make hard to find its species, and make it pot luck in finding another of the exact species. In the case of some plecs they dont show any difference in sex at all or don't show them until they reach sexual maturity, so this does complicate matters. If you wish to breed plecos ive read more reports on breeding the bristlenose, twig (such as the royal, farowella etc.) and a handfull on peckolitas, these may be better candidates.

However, if you do percivere and get them to grow, breed and or identify them with a positive picture could you e-mail the details? Please?