Common Plecostomus Growth Rate??

[charles-n-charge]

You admitted that you do not do water changes often and that you have been keeping a common pleco in a 10 gallon for 8 months. I told you that your pleco is not going to get better due to your irresponsible fish keeping; I stated a fact and answered your question. If you want to be closed minded and not accept the truth then do not create a thread about it. MFK is for recieving and applying information, it is not for being complimented on your horrible fish keeping practices and being given the illusion that what you are doing is okay. I was not rude, I told you the truth and chose not to sugar-coat it, so stop complaining.

I am so sick of people coming on here and asking questions only to turn around and accuse those who answered their questions of lying and/or being rude. Seriously, you people need to grow up.

I have to agree. I kept a pleco in a ten gallon I'll admit, but it was only 2" lol anything more then 3-4" is too big for a 10 gal, no questions asked. But the growth rate of plecos DOES vary from one fish to another. I have two pleco in a 55 gallon tank and they are in great conditions but one is much larger then the other. They are the same age, same batch of eggs actually lol, but one naturally grows faster then the other. I found that algea pellets, the algea that cakes onto aquarium lights, shrimp pellets, raw shrimp, and raw fish are all good foods for them, but anything raw helps with the growth. Because yes they will eat/suck all those things. So don't worry about it. Just upgrade according to the fish size and KEEP GOOD WATER and the fish will be just fine.

Btw no flaming on two pleco in a 55, they'll be upgraded to a 200 when they hit about 10"

 

[Warborg]

I wasn't sure if I was going to touch this, but why not...I have a few minutes.

Let's review some facts.

The pleco was bought at 2.5-3 inches and has only grown to 4inches max in 8 months.

The pleco is in a 10 gallon.

The pleco gets left overs and sometimes algae wafers.

You don't believe in water changes.

I'm not going to address the 10 gallon issue as I think(my opinion) a 20inch RTC is worse off in a 500 gallon.

What worries me is that Plecos need their own food just like any other fish. They should not be left to do 'clean up'.

The problem with not doing water changes is the water builds up poison that slowly hurts your fish. When the water evaporates... the poison doesn't evaporate with it, thus the remaining water becomes more poisoned. I'm not going to lie, adding water does lessen the poison percent slightly. But not as much as it increased, as this cycle repeats... it keeps getting worse

 

[Reptilesfishbirdsmammals]

I wasn't sure if I was going to touch this, but why not...I have a few minutes.

Let's review some facts.

The pleco was bought at 2.5-3 inches and has only grown to 4inches max in 8 months.

The pleco is in a 10 gallon.

The pleco gets left overs and sometimes algae wafers.

You don't believe in water changes.

I'm not going to address the 10 gallon issue as I think(my opinion) a 20inch RTC is worse off in a 500 gallon.

What worries me is that Plecos need their own food just like any other fish. They should not be left to do 'clean up'.

The problem with not doing water changes is the water builds up poison that slowly hurts your fish. When the water evaporates... the poison doesn't evaporate with it, thus the remaining water becomes more poisoned. I'm not going to lie, adding water does lessen the poison percent slightly. But not as much as it increased, as this cycle repeats... it keeps getting worse

I have to agree. I kept a pleco in a ten gallon I'll admit, but it was only 2" lol anything more then 3-4" is too big for a 10 gal, no questions asked. But the growth rate of plecos DOES vary from one fish to another. I have two pleco in a 55 gallon tank and they are in great conditions but one is much larger then the other. They are the same age, same batch of eggs actually lol, but one naturally grows faster then the other. I found that algea pellets, the algea that cakes onto aquarium lights, shrimp pellets, raw shrimp, and raw fish are all good foods for them, but anything raw helps with the growth. Because yes they will eat/suck all those things. So don't worry about it. Just upgrade according to the fish size and KEEP GOOD WATER and the fish will be just fine.

Btw no flaming on two pleco in a 55, they'll be upgraded to a 200 when they hit about 10"

yea i i was trying to keep my cool but they wouldnt listen and just didnt really understand but you guys understand and are what i look for if i post something i mean ill move it to my 55 long soon after i move my desktop out and get my laptop in but i do believe in water changes its just my mom gets mad at me if i change water so i listen to them i mean there my parents..but i didnt exactly mean left overs i meant i give it food but the other fish attack it first then the pleco has fun with the food i give my pleco zucchini to i freeze it then poke a hole in it so it sinks to the bottom..my bio teacher teachs me about fish keeping and hes expierenced i mean he breeds convict cichlids and gots a common pleco thats about 11 inches..in a nice tank i have a feeling it depends on who it is i mean we all got are own opinion..

 

[Bottomfeeder]

I feel really bad for your Pleco. Common Plecos get longer than a 10g. And they get twice the width of a 55g. That just AMAZES me. That sounds like something that the punk kids that hang out outside Petsmart would do. It's a living, breathing animal, just like you. The fact that it has barely grown means that it is severaly stunted and will most likely die soon. And the fact that you don't do water changes absolutely blows my mind. You should not have this animal.
Don't pull the age card on me either, because I'm 15, and when I mess up, I admit it, and I don't get animals I can't accommodate.

 

[L021]

I rescued my common from a 30g at about six inches, where he'd been for about a year, and the keeper wanted it to grow. It's been stunted badly I think, he's only about 10" a year later in my 120g, I only wish I could have moved him out of my 55 earlier, before he got to 9".

You don't DO water changes? My grade 11 biology teacher know nothing about fishkeeping, most don't. Ooh, breeding convicts? Keeping, 11 inch common plecos? NOBODY's done that before, he must have rare talent... If he's telling you not to do water changes, disregard his advice. The nitrogen cycle, which is grade 9 biology by the way, shows that toxic nitrate levels will increase as they are not being removed!

It is NOT a matter of opinion, that's like saying gravity is a "matter of opinion". Or the opinion that elephants exist, it's just a theory after all. If an animal is not in a clean environment, IT WILL SUFFER. End of story.

 

[ratrodmike]

I read somewhere that the cleaner the water is, the faster they will grow.

You should seriously get that 55g cycled and get those fish in there asap. And do water changes! All you need is a 5 gallon bucket and a piece of hose. You don't need an expensive python or anything. That tank is definately overstocked and I'm willing to bet, underfiltered. You can temporarily house them in the 55 until you can save up for or build a bigger tank. Either that, or give them to someone who can properly house them. Good luck and I really hope you choose to do the right thing.

 

[jclyde13]

I rescued my common from a 30g at about six inches, where he'd been for about a year, and the keeper wanted it to grow. It's been stunted badly I think, he's only about 10" a year later in my 120g, I only wish I could have moved him out of my 55 earlier, before he got to 9".

You don't DO water changes? My grade 11 biology teacher know nothing about fishkeeping, most don't. Ooh, breeding convicts? Keeping, 11 inch common plecos? NOBODY's done that before, he must have rare talent... If he's telling you not to do water changes, disregard his advice. The nitrogen cycle, which is grade 9 biology by the way, shows that toxic nitrate levels will increase as they are not being removed!

It is NOT a matter of opinion, that's like saying gravity is a "matter of opinion". Or the opinion that elephants exist, it's just a theory after all. If an animal is not in a clean environment, IT WILL SUFFER. End of story.

lol, that's exactly what I was thinking when I read that.

 

[Bottomfeeder]

Common Pleco in 10g ---> Common Pleco in a 55g

Moving an animal from a horribly undersized tank to a slightly less horribly undersized one.

 

[L021]

lol, that's exactly what I was thinking when I read that.

Wow, I was quoted?

And a 55g is still barely half what an L021 needs. It's like justifying keeping commons in a 10g because it's slightly less overstocked than a five gallon.

 

[Inglorious]

If you're 16 then that should mean that you still go to high school right? Why don't you spend a little less time on here and a little more on your English homework. It's difficult to follow your faulty reasoning due to your lack of punctuation and improper grammar. Maybe then you would realize that people here are trying to help you and your poor pleco,