What size tank?

[SailfinGirl]

What size tank does a full grown south american plecostomus need? My sister has one in her 13.5 UK gallon tank. The fish is about 4 inches long. How big a tank should it have?

 

[Cheese Specialist]

A 4" plec is already too much for a 13 gall IMo, they create a lot of waste and so need a lot of water to dilute it as well as a good filter.

When kind is the plec? Common? There are loads of different ones, perhaps look at Planet Catfish Cat-eLog

 

[SailfinGirl]

it is the dark brown common pleco, not sure what its actually called. it is dark brown with small spots. Im asking because I am going to buy a new tank soon, and it is hopefully going to live in my new tank, but it won't be in there for about a month yet.

 

[SailfinGirl]

it is a Liposarcus pardalis, just looked

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Ok,

It's a common plec and contrary to what Planet Catfish say, they get to 18" sometimes bigger. It does take them a little while to grow but I think you'll want to get him out of the tank he is in ASAP to make sure he is not stunted.

To accomodate this you will need a big tank. No less than 4ft long and 2ft wide IMO and you'll need some very good filtration because of the mess he will make and you need good filtration so the parameters can be good. You have to be careful with what other fish you put in, you can't put as many as usual because of the waste issue.

Give him wood to take refuge on/under and you should be grand.

 

[SailfinGirl]

Yeah, I know he has to get out, but I haven't even bought the tank yet! I need to buy it after my birthday, which is in 9 days, then it needs to cycle. Thanks for your help

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Yeah, I know he has to get out, but I haven't even bought the tank yet! I need to buy it after my birthday, which is in 9 days, then it needs to cycle. Thanks for your help

For cycling, I would put the old filter(s) in the new tank and add the fish straight away. The stocking is the same and the level of bacteria is the same but the water volume is higher, meaning more water to dilute the waste. Put whatever new filter(s) you're getting along side the old ones for a while (and/or transfer media).

That's what I'd do anyways.

 

[SailfinGirl]

I cant do what you suggest with the filters, because my sister will still be running her old tank with fish in it, and my 5 gallon filter is built into the tank! It was a good idea anyway!