How big is your Gold Nugget Pleco (L18)

[calioutlaw1a]

I've found max sizes ranging from 6"-12"+ on various websites. Can anyone confirm the max size for the gold nugget? Thanks!

 

[Kanta]

Mine Is still a juvi at 5" but they can get to 10"+

 

[marvinbaker]

I have 2 males. 1 is 14", the other 12". My 14" is 4" across the head.

 

[mikec707]

Really? Mine is only 3". I heard they only get about 6". How long have you had your? what do you feed them? pics please. Do they keep their bright colors when they are that big?

I have 2 males. 1 is 14", the other 12". My 14" is 4" across the head.

 

[matubula]

The biggest I've actually seen was about the 35cm/14" mark, but I can't remember which variant it was.

Here are a few pics of fish around 25-30cm/10"-12".

 

[cdubel01]

^DAAAAUUUUUMMMMNNNN!

NICE!

 

[calioutlaw1a]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but those do not look like Gold Nugget plecos at all to me.

 

[matubula]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but those do not look like Gold Nugget plecos at all to me.

There's no doubt that they are. These are fine/small spot variety L081.

 

[mikec707]

Does it still have the Yellow stripes on the fins? I can't tell by the pics. I thought all gold nuggets have thoses stripes but I have also never seen one that large. The hairs on the fins are also new to me. After I looked close at my L18's fins I think he has very small hairs now. your L081 is a beast sweet fish!

 

[matubula]

The yellow margin on the dorsal and caudal fin reduces with age/size which is why they are more prominent on younger/smaller fish. The 'hair' on the fins, and on the gill cover, are called odontodes and are generally a sign of a mature male.

The pictures above aren't my fish, they were taken in a shop. This was mine, a L177 about 15cm/6".