What kind of pleco is this?

A

ArkyLady

Addict In Training
Nov 27, 2002
564
1
0
58
Arkansas
I'm starting to wonder if what I have really is a "common" pleco or not. I've always thought that's what he was, but I've had him 2+ years now and he's not grown in ages and is only 4" long. He should be bigger than that by now if he's getting any bigger shouldn't he?

I don't have my digital camera here, but found a pic that's exactly like him. Here it is:

pleco.jpg


Thanks!
 
Last edited:
that is a terrible picture but it looks like a regular pleco to me. plecos grow depending on how much they are eating so if he is not feasting in your tank it makes sense that he would not have grown very much.
 
looks like a common to me too.
 
Ok thanks, that's what I thought. Oh well, just got curious about him still being so small and thought I'd make sure. He's been in a 55g tank and gets an algae wafer every other day, so surely he's not going hungry. He's active and healthy looking, guess maybe he's just a runt :D

Long, long time ago he was the sole survivor in his tank which had a horrible case of ick that killed all my clown loaches. Could a bad outbreak of ick have stunted his growth? or maybe the ick meds? Or should I expect him to continue growing even though he's 2 years old already?
 
beavertayl1 said:
no, they just grow really slow.
Click to expand...

Um.. no.

How big of tank is it in? If it is under 125 gallons, it is a stunted common pleco.

EDIT** I see that it is in a 55 gallon.

It is said that if a pleco is stunted at 8 inches it should be good. I have a pleco and he is about 12" acually, i think he is still growing.. he is 14 years old BTW. Ich cant stunt a fish, mal nutrition can (i see he eats an algae wafer everyday, so it probably isnt that) Ich meds are harmfull to clown loaches, and plecos (that is probably why your clown loaches died from it, because of the medicine.. unless you used salt)
 
Last edited:
I'm going to have to disagree with you on this point Victim, giving him algae wafers every day could very well stunt him. Most plecos turn carnivorous and need a carnivorous diet after they grow out of their juvinile stage. There is also a possibility that its not a common from the picture, it could be a Gippiceps .
 
NatakuTseng said:
I'm going to have to disagree with you on this point Victim, giving him algae wafers every day could very well stunt him. Most plecos turn carnivorous and need a carnivorous diet after they grow out of their juvinile stage. There is also a possibility that its not a common from the picture, it could be a Gippiceps .
Click to expand...



I'm sure he eats the leftover food also.

Also, dont Gibbiceps get like 12", and that definitally doesnt look like one ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom