View Full Version : Pleco growth rate
My pleco has had a less than stellar growth rate (its a common). I can't really figure out why besides the fact that it doesn't get green stuff every day. Could that be a factor? Any ideas? Tank is a 125.
Wippit Guud
11-27-2002, 1:36 PM
Mine grew several inches in the first year, but has slowed down considerably lately. In my case, I think it's the lack of driftwood in the tank that's keeping him smaller.
Mine started off around 3.5 inches, and it is 5 tops now. I got it in May. There is driftwood in the tank.
Wippit Guud
11-27-2002, 2:36 PM
I got mine about 2 years ago (think it was June 2000). I jumped to 5" pretty quickly, but it's only at 7" right now (that's including tail fins)... he's about at the limit for my 29g, but I'm getting mife with a 55 or better after Christmas, so he'll have more space.
I've had my common pleco for about 3 years now and it has been very slow growing...
When purchased it was only about 3", but now it's upwards of 10". It started in a 20 and now it's in my 55. It grew pretty fast to about 6" and slowed down after. As long as you supplement it's food with lots of algea wafers and the occasional fresh greens it should continue to grow. Actually, my plec eats cichlid pellets and anything else I throw in there. You just have to be patient I guess.
yannfulliquet
11-27-2002, 2:42 PM
Hi!
Ok you have a 125gla but what are the tankmates, how often and how much of water change do you do?
At what size have you bought him and what is his actual size, How long since you bought him?
Cheers
Yann
Tankmates are an oscar, a dempsey, and 3 silver dollars. I try to do weekly water changes, but that usually ends up being once every two weeks. The rest of your questions were answered in my last post.
Weird all my plecos grow pretty fast. I know I had a small one that grew an inch in like a couple weeks and Timmain from this forum gave me one and its gotten a inch or 2 bigger in like 2 months and hes already 14-15" so all mine grow about an inch a month. As long as there food for them if I dont feed them as much they slow down alot.
What exactly do you feed them?
yannfulliquet
11-28-2002, 10:36 AM
Hi!
How much water do you change every two weeks and so!!!
Nitrates are know to slow down the grow of fish!
HAve you ever measured the nitrates-nitrites phosphate level inside your tank!
Cheers
Yann
vfrex
11-28-2002, 11:46 AM
Haven't done nitrate in a while. No real point in doing nitrite, the tank is cycled. The cichlids in the tank have had an awesome growth rate...inch a month.
my brother is home from college now. He claims that the pleco has doubled in size since we got 'em. I'm gonna go by his word and say it grew. But I'd still like some input as to feeding practices.
yannfulliquet
11-28-2002, 3:02 PM
Hi!
One thing to remember is that Loricariidae have "armor plates" and that is probably hard enough for them to grow fast with such things. Unlike cichlids or other scales fish that can achieve adult growth in a year and so it usually take a longer time for Loricariidae, adulthood is never reach in that span of time but does take longer. Being scaleless fish ( yes they are "armor plate is not a scale in a scientific way) make them more intolerant to water pollutionof any sort and even a small amount would not harm cichlids for exemple, it can have an influence on Loricariidae and co...
Still if you have him since May and it has already double in size, I think it is a pretty good grow rate...
Cheers
Yann
johnw
11-30-2002, 12:42 AM
I feed mine algae chips because there's hardly any in the tank. it seems that the more room they have,the healthier they are. Now for a question: does yours wink? I'm not kiddin, I think he's winking at me. I usually have mine for a year or 2 and then take them back to the pet store and trade them in.
I have never seen mine do that. Although i've heard of it happening.
I have seen mine rush up to the top of the water and rush back down. Wierd stuff.
FishNinjaX
07-14-2010, 3:32 PM
:nilly::help2: :help1: i Just Bought 2 Plecos Their like 2-3 inches right now, but b4 i put them into the tank i cleaned it but left a little algae just in case i forget to feed, The Plecos mates are TigerBarbs, Dainos, and Someother fishes. Any Tips, i Dont know how to make them grow, There is Enough Dark Places in the tank but no Driftwood
jpappy789
07-14-2010, 3:42 PM
This thread is almost 8 years old. I suggest you start your own thread with your questions.