Adopting an Additional 10" Sailfin

[BigTrain]

I am preparing to adopt a 9/10-year-old, 10-inch-long sailfin pleco. The owner has housed the pleco in a 30g tank for the majority of its life, and it appears to be very healthy with a calm demeanor.

I currently own a 7-year-old, 15-inch-long sailfin and keep it in a 300g aquarium. It is especially aggressive with its territory, but otherwise keeps to itself.

Would is be wise to keep these two sailfins in the same, 300g aquarium provided they both have plenty of hiding space on opposite ends? I am unaware of either fish's sex, so potential breeding is a concern as well.



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[Warborg]

Let's address your last comment first. There is no need to worry about the breeding. Sailfins breed in mud ponds...so, unless your tank is filled with mud, they won't breed for you.

I have kept similar sized sailfins together before with no issues...however they grew up together. I'm not getting a good feeling from your description of these two plecos. I would only attempt putting them together if I had a backup plan I could use right away in case thing went south. You would had to watch them throughout the day for a week easy to make sure there is no issues.

 

[BigTrain]

I do have an active 125g aquarium that could work as a back-up home in the event they couldn't get along.

What is your experience with the lifespans of your past plecos? Part of the reason I'm considering this new pleco is with the idea he will soon pass away due to old age.


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[GEV83]

A pleco who is taken care of could live for 12+ years. I know some people here in the past have had some older then that. They are a long lived fish. As far as housing it with the other one well it's a hit or miss. Won't know what will happen till you try it. They could try killing each other or might completely ignore each other or anything in between.

 

[Warborg]

I do have an active 125g aquarium that could work as a back-up home in the event they couldn't get along.

What is your experience with the lifespans of your past plecos? Part of the reason I'm considering this new pleco is with the idea he will soon pass away due to old age.


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Plecos are said to be able to live up to 15 years. Oddly for me my best was only 10 years. I blame too many tank changes. In the 90's(my prime time with plecos)they got moved almost every year.