Royal plecos

nursie

nursie

AC Members
Jan 15, 2005
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Peoria, IL
Real Name
michelle
I'm going to look at a royal plec tonight at the lfs. I was talking to the owner...and he says that most of the royals available now are smaller due to where they are coming from...but I forget exactly where :o Maybe Venezuala vs Columbia...I don't remember.
I had asked how big they got and said I heard they got >12 inches. He says the ones that are available are around 6 inches.
So what's the scoop? Is he having me on because he wants to move a pricey fish out of his store, or is there something to it? From what I can seeout on planetcatfish there are several strains.
I'm not 100% set on getting it, but I would like to.
I will quarentine him, but eventually can I put him in with the clown loaches, kuhli loaches and rainbows? It is rather a busy tank.
 
Yeah..is going for $64ish...but I really think they are neat. It does make me a little nervous to pay that much for 1 fish, but it is a good lfs, and I think that this particular fish has been there a month or 2.
 
I think he's trying to push product, not help you make the best decision for the aquarium....Otherwise I'd look around the net to see if you can find any evidence of a new type of royal that doesn't grow so large
 
Royals grow VERY slowly. There are many locational variants/different species of Royals. Most get over a foot but rarely in aquariums. I've seen a couple wilds through the years that were well over 18" SL and had heads 9 inches wide or so. HUGE fish. You'll occasionally see extra large dominant male Ancistrus of species that don't normally get much over 4" though. It doesn't mean all of them in the species will attain that size. Keep in mind these fish are very slow to mature in the first place and some plecos species are known to be still spawning at 15 or 16 years of documented age. They can be very long lived.

With that said, the price tag is a bit steep for a royal unless it's a fantastic specimen. 6" is a good sized one to find in a store, definitely.

Barbie
 
Those are REALLY expensive royals! I payed 25 for my Royal and I NEVER see them around here more than 29.99. I would find some new stores or check online before paying 60+ for one! I have had my Royal for three of four months and it has only grown 1/2 inch to an inch so as Barbie said they are VERY slow growers. Anyway hope this helps and good luck!
 
We just don't get them around here. If I find a cheaper one to get shipped or drive a couple of hours..that ups the price and I may as well get this one. Also..it's an independant lfs...I don't mind supporting him.
 
Petco in West Hartford, CT has baby ones for between $7 and $14 all the time...This petco must have good people, all the tanks are always clean and the fish are healthy
 
We have a Petsmart that I frequent, a Petco and a Superpets...the superpets really su cks. I've never seen anything more exotic than a bristlenose at the Pets stores, and the fish are kept in just a revolting conditions at superpets. I bought a gold nugget there and it died.
 
gold nuggets are hard to keep anyways.

royals are usually around $30 here.
 
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