pleco tank size - Aquarium Advice

Phoenixphire55 · 05-10-2008, 02:06 PM

How big of a tank is necessary for a full grown pleco? I'm not sure exactly which kind mine is but he's not one of those that only get to 5 inches or whatever. He's still young so he's only about 3 inches long right now, but I have to plan what kind of tank I'm going to have him in when he gets full grown.

neilanh · 05-10-2008, 03:06 PM

It really depends on what kind of pleco it is. Do you have a pic?

warped1 · 05-11-2008, 05:04 PM

Yup - we will need to know what species it is to answer that one. Plecos can vary in size from very small to they had no business selling that to the public - Pictures would help us

Skyrmir · 05-13-2008, 03:32 PM

Common pleco's usually top out just over a foot long, up to about 18 inches. I wouldn't suggest anything less than 125 gallons for one, preferably something larger. My pleco is hitting 12 inches right now in my 75 and he's pretty much at the size limit.

JustOneMore20 · 05-14-2008, 12:15 PM

To add to what Skyrmir said, I would go with a tank that is atleast 2 foot wide. A regular 125g wouldn't work for an 18" pleco IMO, since its only 18" wide. You want the fish to be able to turn around.

It does depend on the pleco though. A full grown Bristlenose could live in a 29g+ full grown.

Phoenixphire55 · 05-14-2008, 01:49 PM

good God, why do they sell those to people? The chances of me getting a 125 gallon + tank at any point in the future are about 0.00%. I guess I'll have to sell my pleco eventually.

Skyrmir · 05-14-2008, 02:33 PM

That's about the reaction most people have when they realize how big plecos get. If you're lucky you find someone with a pond set up or a koi pond with room for him. Otherwise it's back to the fish store if they'll even take him.

Phoenixphire55 · 05-21-2008, 10:02 AM

This picture isn't of my pleco but it looks exactly like mine (from the ventral side anyway).

http://www.beast.gen.nz/fish/Pleco-001.jpg

Skyrmir · 05-21-2008, 10:42 AM

Yup, that's the common pleco. Aside from getting huge they also like to splash. This can be an important thing to remember while looking closely at the surface of the water... Mines gotten me twice so far, I'm pretty sure the second time was intentional.

05-10-2008, 02:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
Phoenixphire55 Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 252	pleco tank size How big of a tank is necessary for a full grown pleco? I'm not sure exactly which kind mine is but he's not one of those that only get to 5 inches or whatever. He's still young so he's only about 3 inches long right now, but I have to plan what kind of tank I'm going to have him in when he gets full grown. __________________ 15 gallon: 5 African clawed frogs 10 gallon: fb toads and fb newts 20 gallon: 8 Mollies, 4 Bronze Corys, pleco 35 gallon: 5 goldfish (3 fantails, 2 pearlscales)

05-10-2008, 03:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
neilanh MTS Advocate Community Mentor Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 2,557 Images: 15	It really depends on what kind of pleco it is. Do you have a pic? __________________ ~Neilan In the DC Metro Area? Check out GWAPA Look, I have a My Info Page! Where's yours? Useful Links: Vote for AA, Nitrogen Cycle, Fishless Cycling, Articles, Acronym List

05-14-2008, 12:15 PM	#5 (permalink)
JustOneMore20 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: May 2006 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 2,099 Images: 8	To add to what Skyrmir said, I would go with a tank that is atleast 2 foot wide. A regular 125g wouldn't work for an 18" pleco IMO, since its only 18" wide. You want the fish to be able to turn around. It does depend on the pleco though. A full grown Bristlenose could live in a 29g+ full grown. __________________ ~Kristin~ 5 planted tanks: 55g, 40g, 29g, 20g, 5.5g; 10g Shell Dwelling Cichlid tank, 5.5g fry tank My links to pics: My 40g breeder log, My tanks blog

05-14-2008, 01:49 PM	#6 (permalink)
Phoenixphire55 Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 252	good God, why do they sell those to people? The chances of me getting a 125 gallon + tank at any point in the future are about 0.00%. I guess I'll have to sell my pleco eventually. __________________ 15 gallon: 5 African clawed frogs 10 gallon: fb toads and fb newts 20 gallon: 8 Mollies, 4 Bronze Corys, pleco 35 gallon: 5 goldfish (3 fantails, 2 pearlscales)

05-21-2008, 10:02 AM	#8 (permalink)
Phoenixphire55 Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 252	This picture isn't of my pleco but it looks exactly like mine (from the ventral side anyway). http://www.beast.gen.nz/fish/Pleco-001.jpg __________________ 15 gallon: 5 African clawed frogs 10 gallon: fb toads and fb newts 20 gallon: 8 Mollies, 4 Bronze Corys, pleco 35 gallon: 5 goldfish (3 fantails, 2 pearlscales)

05-11-2008, 05:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
warped1 Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: South Philly, Pa. Posts: 306	Yup - we will need to know what species it is to answer that one. Plecos can vary in size from very small to they had no business selling that to the public - Pictures would help us

05-13-2008, 03:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
Skyrmir Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Posts: 509 Images: 9	Common pleco's usually top out just over a foot long, up to about 18 inches. I wouldn't suggest anything less than 125 gallons for one, preferably something larger. My pleco is hitting 12 inches right now in my 75 and he's pretty much at the size limit.

05-14-2008, 02:33 PM	#7 (permalink)
Skyrmir Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Posts: 509 Images: 9	That's about the reaction most people have when they realize how big plecos get. If you're lucky you find someone with a pond set up or a koi pond with room for him. Otherwise it's back to the fish store if they'll even take him.

05-21-2008, 10:42 AM	#9 (permalink)
Skyrmir Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Posts: 509 Images: 9	Yup, that's the common pleco. Aside from getting huge they also like to splash. This can be an important thing to remember while looking closely at the surface of the water... Mines gotten me twice so far, I'm pretty sure the second time was intentional.

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