Hello, I have been wondering this for a while now. What size tank is really appropriate for a common pleco? We all know they get huge but I have really thought about how big they get and the tanks people put them in. Even a 60-70 gallon tank seems pretty tight fitting for it. I have seen a pleco about 2 feet long. So what do you guys think about an appropriate tank size for them?
Question about Common Plecos
- Thread starter f1shy
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I used to have one that was well over a foot long. The thing was a beast and supposedly an "albino" though it was more of a yellow than white. Anyway, I had him in a 160 for a while and it was a pain. He didn't seem unhappy in there but he swam where he wanted to and pretty much destroyed anything in his way. Now I have one in there that is about 6 inches. Much better.
I think they dont belong in aquariums, maybe ponds, but not aquariums.. hardly eat algae when large, poop more then they eat, arn't active, grow huge, are mean, can suck slime coats off fish. However, many of the L# plecos, and even bushynose plecos are great.
I love my bushynose pleco. He's so cute and tiny. Bad thing about bushynose plecos is that there can be NO live plants at all in the tank or they will destroy them.
iv got a 16" common in a 210 and he is usually in one spot under a log or stuck to front glass he is kind of a bulldozer trying to decide if i should keep him and put in my new 420 or get rid of him
Depends on the species. IMO:
H. punctatus - 75 gallons
P. pardalis - 120 gallons
H. plecostomus - 180 gallons
P. multiradiatus - 180 gallons
P. disjunctivus -180 gallons
Just because you, personally, dislike them doesn't mean they don't belong in aquariums...
but then again, no fish "belongs" in an aquarium...
H. punctatus - 75 gallons
P. pardalis - 120 gallons
H. plecostomus - 180 gallons
P. multiradiatus - 180 gallons
P. disjunctivus -180 gallons
Just because you, personally, dislike them doesn't mean they don't belong in aquariums...
but then again, no fish "belongs" in an aquarium...
I have 2 4" and a 6" BN in my 135 with Java fern and swords and they haven't shown the slightest interest. Plants are growing and healthy as heck. But there is a lot of driftwood to keep them satisfied also...
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I have a young common Pleco and a Chocolate Pleco in a 100 gallon. I'm probably going to sell the common when he hits the 1ft mark. People don't seem to agree on the minimum tank size for a Pleco, the only thing everyone agrees on is that they need a very, very big tank when full grown. 
That's cool! I'll have to try that. If the plants don't make it I know who did it then.