Rescue Pleco

[Darth_Redemption]

A friend of a friend is giving up the hobby and I'm taking in a 5 year old pleco that is only 3" long. I havn't seen the little guy yet but I was told he was a common. Given that Ishmael grew to 8" in just 1 year I'm wondering how exactly the new fellow managed not to grow. He's going in the new 50 gallon with Ishmael and the cherry barbs and if that doesn't work out I'm already re-setting up the 26 for him. Both will be moved to a 75+ within the next few years. Anyone with experience see a problem with this? Ishmael is a family pet and he's valued more like our cats than an ornament so obviously I'm willing to take all the advice I can get to keep both fish healthy and happy.
Also the little guy has no name for some reason so maybe you can suggest one for him.

 

[Red Devil]

It is amazing that a fish can cling to life on very little food.. and i would say that this is probably this fishes reason for not growing.. if the tank has many fast aggressive tankmates.. a common will just barely survive on the little morsels left behind.. or the worst case scenario is he is sick.. but i opt for the reason that he was starved more since commons are pretty hardy as far as disease issues.. he will grow and prosper i am sure once he is in the right environment with algae wafers and time to suck on them with out someone else chasing him away.maybe a good idea to keep him in the 25gal and get him acclimated to eating and regaining his health... he needs some passive stress free living to play catch -up.. catch- up is a cute name..

 

[Red Devil]

Ps.. and after thinking about it ..there are different species of commons..some grow large and others don't.. so you really need to get a ID to be sure...

 

[Warborg]

Ps.. and after thinking about it ..there are different species of commons..some grow large and others don't.. so you really need to get a ID to be sure...

All commons should be able to reach 12 inches with ease. I have a feeling this will end up being a clown or BN

 

[yayfish24]

Post pics when you get him.

 

[Red Devil]

All commons should be able to reach 12 inches with ease. I have a feeling this will end up being a clown or BN

your probably right since common pleco could be any of these...
If you purchase a Common Pleco in a fish store it can be one of several species, including Suckermouth Catfish ( Hypostomus plecostomus ), Bristlenose Catfish ( Ancistrus dolichopterus ), Sailfin Catfish ( Liposarcus multiradiatus ) or Amazon sailfin catfish ( Liposarcus pardalis ). The name Common Pleco is used for a lot of different brown-mottled Plecos that grow rather big in the aquarium. They all have similar habits and requirements, so this article is of interest even if you do not know exactly which species of pleco you keep.

 

[Darth_Redemption]

It's...probably a bushynose. She looks nothing like Ishmael and she's 6 cm. Looks like very little markings on the back and the belly has small yellow spots. We'll get a picture when she moves.