first question; would it be cheaper to buy small plecos and raise them in a small tank and slowly step the tank size up as they get bigger or just buy big ones. i have a 55 for the moment with 125 going in this summer whats a better plan... also whats the hardiest pleco? whats the toughest/ best armored?
pleco noob questions
- Thread starter Ieatyourfish
- Start date
Plecos like all fish are cheaper at a smaller size. Most plecos have the potential to become monsters so reguardless of current size i would put them in the 125 when you get it. Plecos are pretty slow growers so you can keep them in the 55 gal until you get the 125 in the summer. As for the toughest they all have plating and are all armored the same but the bigger a fish the tougher it is in most cases so i would say the adonis pleco. Those guys are extremely big tank busters. Or if you mean toughest as in hardiest i would say common plecos and they grow very large also.
I do not see why not upgrading the tank size..and for the hardy most toughly armored pleco it would be a common plecostomus.
well the reason i was thinking of growing them up is that i have well right now juvenile jag and shes a nasty girl. the real reason for the 125 is so i don't hurt her but i'm worried about plecos dealing with her.
If you do the math cost of water, food, filter media needing to be replaced over the years, electricity and other factors buying a bigger one could be cheaper.
I know seeing a small 2" Adonis for example for $15 is cheap but it will cost a lot more than $120 I've seen 12" ones going for to grow it out.
I also agree commons are very hardy and can really hold their own with big fish and they grow fast for a plec.
I know seeing a small 2" Adonis for example for $15 is cheap but it will cost a lot more than $120 I've seen 12" ones going for to grow it out.
I also agree commons are very hardy and can really hold their own with big fish and they grow fast for a plec.
Or the large plecos may be free. If you check on Craigslist, occassionally folks will give away their "common" (or sailfin) plecos as it's gotten too big for their 15-55 gallon tank.