View Full Version : Biggest Sailfin Pleco...
Serygo
11-21-2005, 11:06 PM
what is the biggest sailfin pleco you have seen in your lifetime?
MrfisH
11-22-2005, 12:09 AM
I have a 12", but I am pretty sure that the kellys roast beef on Rte.1 saugus, mass has one pushing 16"
FlammingWoodChuck
11-22-2005, 12:58 AM
The biggest I have seen Is my 11inch one. I would love to see some Huge ones. How big do they max out at???
Steve_89
11-22-2005, 4:40 AM
I have a 12", but I am pretty sure that the kellys roast beef on Rte.1 saugus, mass has one pushing 16"
How old is your 12 incher??
Ornatapinnis
11-22-2005, 7:00 AM
Assuming that you are refering to the gibbiceps, they don't get much bigger than 12" to 14". I had one for about 15 years, was about 12" or so. It was the cooest pleco I ever had. It was a very sad day when it passed......
Serygo
11-22-2005, 10:32 PM
Right now, I have had my Sailfin Pleco (sold to me as common plec.) for a year or so. Bought him at approx. 7" and now hes pushing 12", and hasnt stopped growing yet :)...
MrfisH
11-22-2005, 11:35 PM
How old is your 12 incher??
Not sure, I just got him bout a month ago at the NH aquarium auction for 7 bucks. I love him. He is the most active pleco I have ever seen. And watching him go round for round with pinchy, one of the more amusing events I see.
tc_aro
11-23-2005, 1:18 PM
My sailfin pleco is about 13".
Michael 125
11-23-2005, 3:06 PM
i've seen them in a manatee display at busch gardens and they looked to be around 16".
taksan
11-24-2005, 3:41 AM
22 inches ..... female who is still around after 16 years.
what is the biggest sailfin pleco you have seen in your lifetime?
nativelover
11-24-2005, 7:14 PM
19 incher in a privat lfs.
mine is 13" @ 2 years old, well i bought him 2 years ago at 3 1/2 inches from wally world
Mine is over 16 inches long and is 14 years old, hes a real old boy. i bought him as a 1.5" baby.
he was my first monster fish, and he has moved tanks several times and now resides in my new 150 gallon.
the biggest i have is about 16" .. but i saw an 18 incher in an lfs i go to before ;)
Steve_89
11-28-2005, 3:35 AM
What do you guys use to pump them up fast?
I just bought 4 that I want to put in my pond asap.
i put mine in the pond and usually they grow very quicky there. i'm not sure why though, could be there are more algae there but i don't get to feed them properly in the pond, i just put in sinking pellets for my pignose and niger and they just get scraps but for some reason they grow very quickly compared to the my other gibby's which are in my tanks.. size difference is very noticable as the same gibby pair i've both is 16" & 8" now with the 8 incher being the one thats tank raised.. the one in the tank even ate more from what i've been feeding :)
MrfisH
11-28-2005, 11:38 AM
are we all still talkin sailfins ?
are we all still talkin sailfins ?
yup i was.. i asumed that by sailfin pleco they mean Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps or some times called gibbys :)
http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/loricari/pterygop/148_F.PHP
MrfisH
12-01-2005, 7:11 PM
yup i was.. i asumed that by sailfin pleco they mean Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps or some times called gibbys :)
http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/loricari/pterygop/148_F.PHP
yea that be them
fishyboi
12-01-2005, 7:26 PM
My local lfs had 4 that were 18-26 inches in ther giant pond with kois.
finsandfangs
12-01-2005, 9:42 PM
i just traded this guy in to a fish store he was 18 inches( easy to tell he touched the front and back of my 150 gal which is 18 inches)
Vince
12-01-2005, 10:09 PM
I have mine in my 330 eating beefheart, and raw shrimp. I think it might be around 14 inches. It's bigger than my 12" Dat.
nativelover
12-09-2005, 9:56 PM
i just feed mine shrimp pellets and he also eats the left over cichlid pellets that swell up and get stuck on the filter intake. i put him in my 55 gal. and he ate some of the guppies (i saw him do it). and lately hes been changing color. like he'll go from dark clack to really light brown , then an hour later he'll be black again... anyone kno if this is normal. the temp raised 2 degrees when he started doin it. (76 degrees-78 degrees)
ChickenTeeth
12-09-2005, 9:59 PM
Wow
Ornatapinnis
12-10-2005, 8:40 AM
I think that a few people are either mis identifying the pleco they have seen or over estimating the size of the one they saw or had. THis species does not get much bigger than 12" perhaps 14" to 16" on the outside but that would be far and few between.
I am not basing this opinion on only one example or experiance I have had with this species (as many people do) I kept one of my own for a very long time but I also have them in service accounts and have sold several of them to customers. I also did a quick search on line and I think the bifggest size I saw was up to 16".
There are several Hypostomus sp that may look similar and do get really huge.
I think that a few people are either mis identifying the pleco they have seen or over estimating the size of the one they saw or had. THis species does not get much bigger than 12" perhaps 14" to 16" on the outside but that would be far and few between.
I am not basing this opinion on only one example or experiance I have had with this species (as many people do) I kept one of my own for a very long time but I also have them in service accounts and have sold several of them to customers. I also did a quick search on line and I think the bifggest size I saw was up to 16".
There are several Hypostomus sp that may look similar and do get really huge.
i think most get bigger than 12"..
i did not over estimate mine as its real easy to measure pl3cos, i just took it out of the pond and measured it on the table so my measurement of 16" (from tip to tip) is true.. anyway, i have posted a pic of him so you be the judge if it was mis-indentified :)
unfortunately, we might need to wait a year or so too see if my would get to 18" :D