Hifin and Sailfin: Cute for now lol

[JessAlba452]

Here are pictures of my two plecos. The Hifin Spotted was purchased at Petco thinking he would be easy to keep. Even though he is, cleaning after his droppings does take some time. The Sailfin was purchased from a LFS and has been great. Though he does like to chase the smaller pleco around the tank during feeding time.

I think it is almost time to separate them from each other.

Hifin Spotted Pleco - My first fish purchase from Petsmart he was 1.5" long now about 2" maybe 2.5" had him for 2-3 months.

Sailfin Pleco - His first day in the tank! He was 5" when I got him and is the newest addition to the family. Poor guy had to be moved from the tank with JD to another after having his dorsal shredded. He has healed very nicely!

 

[jclyde13]

What/how much are you feeding them? 1/2 to 1" of growth in 2-3 months is VERY slow for a sailfin pleco. Mine went from about 1.5" to 6-6.5" in that timespan, and is now just over 14" at about 13 months from when I got it. Also, I assume you plan on upgrading your tank size soon? These guys will need a minimum of 90-125 gallons as adults (although since you have 2, I'd prefer the latter).

Edit: and also, your "Sailfin Pleco" looks more like a common to me. It definitely isn't the species that is most commonly referred to as a sailfin (Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps).

 

[JessAlba452]

What/how much are you feeding them? 1/2 to 1" of growth in 2-3 months is VERY slow for a sailfin pleco. Mine went from about 1.5" to 6-6.5" in that timespan, and is now just over 14" at about 13 months from when I got it. Also, I assume you plan on upgrading your tank size soon? These guys will need a minimum of 90-125 gallons as adults (although since you have 2, I'd prefer the latter).

Edit: and also, your "Sailfin Pleco" looks more like a common to me. It definitely isn't the species that is most commonly referred to as a sailfin (Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps).

I feed them pleco wafers and cucumber/zucchini blanched. They also eat the left overs that the catfish doesn't finish. I feed them about 3 times a day, usually alternating with veggies every few days since it clouds up the water fast. Are there any fruits/veggies that I could feed that would not cloud up the water as fast?

Water changes every 2 weeks about 30%. When he was a baby I had him in a small bowl with my beta, being afraid that the catfish would eat him. So once he grew enough not to fit into the catfish's mouth he was transplanted into the 28gal tank.

Could his stunted growth be due to the small size of a 28gal hex tank?

I have planned on upgrading to a 55Gal rectangular tank soon for the JD. I've thought of making a pond setting for the plecos. Though it would be outside I have to figure out how to keep it heated for them in winter.

Thank you for the clarification on the Pleco species Could you tell me which of my pleco's is which? I think I have them confused together. D'oh!

 

[jclyde13]

I feed them pleco wafers and cucumber/zucchini blanched. They also eat the left overs that the catfish doesn't finish. I feed them about 3 times a day, usually alternating with veggies every few days since it clouds up the water fast. Are there any fruits/veggies that I could feed that would not cloud up the water as fast?

Water changes every 2 weeks about 30%. When he was a baby I had him in a small bowl with my beta, being afraid that the catfish would eat him. So once he grew enough not to fit into the catfish's mouth he was transplanted into the 28gal tank.

Could his stunted growth be due to the small size of a 28gal hex tank?

I have planned on upgrading to a 55Gal rectangular tank soon for the JD. I've thought of making a pond setting for the plecos. Though it would be outside I have to figure out how to keep it heated for them in winter.

Thank you for the clarification on the Pleco species Could you tell me which of my pleco's is which? I think I have them confused together. D'oh!

Hey, sorry for the slightly delayed response (I haven't been on in a couple days). If I were you, I would do larger, more frequent water changes (at least 30% per week), but other than that, it sounds like you're taking pretty good care of them. I'd say you probably have about 2-3 more months until they outgrow the 28 gallon, but they will probably be fine in the 55 gallon for a while. You'll probably need to upgrade from the 55 gallon within the next 8 months. As for the species of your plecos, the one in the first pic is a Pterygoplichthys joselimaianus, and I'm not 100% sure on the second one, but I think it is a P. multiradiatus.

btw, you should get an actual tank (at least 1.5 gallons) that is filtered and heated for your betta. It's very bad for their health to keep them in a bowl, and will take multiple years off of their potential lifespan.

 

[selki]

nice!