Common Pleco stunted growth, I'm confused

[BenSow]

Ok, I had 3 common plecos in my extreme tiny 2 gallon tank last time. 2 of them died just one week before upgrading. The last one survived at 8cm. Now it is in my 55gallon and around 10cm. Then I noticed his body getting fatter and not streamlined just like when his late 2 tankmates.

Ok, so I was wondering which pleco will grow bigger in these 2 situations:
1-55 gallon tank with bare bottom
2-55 gallon tank with gravel, driftwood, plants, blue ,]loster and one albino pleco.

Which one will grow bigger? Is the size difference a lot?

Thanks

 

[Noddy]

anyways your tank will be too small for a common.
Sorry to bring it to you, but your fish will expierience stunted growth most likely.
I got a Hypostomus of one foot, and if it swims a bit, my 180 is actually just big enough.
Your common should even grow bigger than my hypostomus, so...any upgrade possible ?

 

[Warborg]

Pictures would help, as there are a few 'commons' out there that get different sizes.

Edit: also you didn't mention how old is the pleco

 

[BenSow]

I don't know how old is the pleco. I bought all three of them at different times and I don't know which is this.

 

[TwistedPenguin]

Either Plec in low nitrates will grow bigger. It's nitrate level that determines stunting not tank size itself. Of course I'm not talking a 2 g tank. That was flat cruel.

 

[Warborg]

Also keep in mind new plecos are very underfed for shipping purposes and the LFS don't feed them much either. So in the first few months of being in a home tank they will fatten up some before too much growing lengthwise

so...any upgrade possible ?

Read his signature.

 

[BenSow]

Upgrade may be possible if I'm paying for some part of it. And yeah I think it might be the food too. I feed my plecs carnivorous sinking pellets. The LFS recommended me that and my plec loves it and shares it with my blue lobster... It is SanYu brand which said that it doesn't cloud water(true) and promotes high growth(not proven...)

 

[zerojquan85]

Option #2

2-55 gallon tank with gravel, driftwood, plants, blue ,]loster and one albino pleco.


Plecos can do ok on clear bottom tank, but they need driftwood...

But a 55 gallon is actually quite small for a pleco of that size.. i would suggest going bigger.. (tank)

 

[Mr_Biji]

Either Plec in low nitrates will grow bigger. It's nitrate level that determines stunting not tank size itself. Of course I'm not talking a 2 g tank. That was flat cruel.

Agree w/ Penguin. They did a study recently w/ a channel cat in a 5 gallon and perfect water ( huge system to circulate it). Anyway the cat grew at a normal rate. Water quality, not tank size determines max size. Course diet contributes as well, drift wood is a must imo.

 

[Bulbfish]

feed your pleco zuccini.i bought one not long ago at about 8" and was reccomended to feed it zuccini,and the thing LOVES it but i think it's a good idea to give them some sinking algie tablets to feed on also.