common pleco-info please...

[jameshilljr]

Plecos seem to be the most common algae eater's around where I live. I have been reading on here that the common pleco can get massive. Is that the kind that walmart and other LFS sell(they all look the same)? I got one with a 10g that's about 4"(now it's in my 55g)that looks like the ones sold at these stores(I don't have any pics).How long would a "common pleco" take to grow from 4" to full size?Any help would be appreciated...

 

[jpappy789]

It depends on the species as several are known as "common" plecos. Hypostomus plecostomus, Hypostomus punctatus, Liposarcus multiradiatus, and Liposarcus pardalis, and others are all referred to as commons. 9 times out of 10 if you do not know what species it is when buying it is one of the "common" pleco species, especially when dealing with the chain stores. They can get anywhere from 8 inches to upwards of 2 feet in length. Usually it takes a while for them to grow that large but growth rate really depends on a number of factors including diet, water quality, space, etc. Anyways, you should always consider the adult size when planning a tank so your best bet is to post a pic and get an ID so you know which one you are dealing with.