how big will adonis get?

[talloulou]

I bought an adonic catfish from a lfs. I was told the adonis would get to be about 8-9 inches top. However while doing research on the internet I came across sites claiming the adonis will get huge, like up to 3 ft long??? I have The Aquarium Fish Handbook which claims adonis can grow up to 11 inches in the wild but generally stays under 9 inches captive. Yet I saw sights with pictures no less of giant mammoth adonis catfish. So what's the deal?? What did I get myself into. My adonis right now is less than 3 in. But I can't see myself dealing with a 3 ft fish, no matter how out of control my husband allows my fish hobby to get. Anyone have an adonis???

 

[lmw80]

are you talking about the polka dot pleco? If so, I have heard two feet.

Also, you can't always go by what the lfs has marked - as they make mistakes. Do you have a picture?

 

[talloulou]

It' s definitely an acanthicus adonis. I think the common name is lyretail pleco?
There are tons of pictures available on the internet that look exactly like my little guy. It's just the different sites vary greatly on how big it will get. Aquarium central says 16 inches http://www.aquariacentral.com/species/db.cgi?db=fresh&uid=default&ID=0091&view_records=1

planet catfish says 24 inches

While another site http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/encyclopedia-110.html claims an adult growth of 8 inches, which is way closer to what I was told at time of purchase.