Plecos Plecos Plecos!

[jbarr]

Royal Pleco from fins.actwin.com:

As a preface; I've attained a recent affection for these algae-loving suckerfish, and I recently got a Temmincki (bristle-nose??). I just wanted to make a sort of Plecostymus appreciation topic, they don't get enough credit
I also have had a common hi-fin for just short of a year or so now, coming up on 5 inches now. Can't wait for him to get huge.

Is it true that plecos get hardier as they age?

Feel free to use this topic as a sort of pleco-free-for-all, but to offer some sort of structure to this, I leave you with this question:

What are some of the cheaper, less-common plecos? Or is that sort of an oxymoron??
Also, what are some plecos you'd be likely to find in an LFS?

Thanks, have fun!

 

[tropicfishman]

yeah they become liek tanks when they get middle aged, nice pleco Love the red eyes and stripes of those guys, I've seen some monsters at my LFS , some reaching well over 14 inches at least, 90 bucks a pop

 

[coldmachineUK]

This little beasty is now much bigger, and has a 6' tank nearly all to himself. He's a friends gibby, and is something like 14" I would say. He hand feeds, loves having his belly stroked, and is a real show off.

I actually didn't like plecs, one of very few fish I've never been keen on, but recently purchased a gold marble bristlenose plec for my malawi cichlid tank. It's a real beauty, and has changed my opinion of them!

 

[lmw80]

That royal pleco is gorgeous!

Great topic. I love plecos, the little waste machines they are!

 

[rich311k]

jbarr, that is a very handsome fish. Good luck with him.

 

[crazyred]

My fav plecs are Hypancistrus species!!! They stay small (mostly) and they are more carnivorous so they aren't the waste machines as other plecs. I have two Hypancistrus....I have a Rio Jari (L-316) in my 29 (here's a link for info & pics: http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=1055 )....he's about 4" at full grown, and I have a Queen Arabesque (L-260) in my 55 ( here's a link for info & pics: http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=229 )...she's about 4" also. These are not cheap, easily found plecs. I got both of mine online, but they were worth it!!!

 

[JDogg]

I really enjoy my Rubbernose Pleco kind of a prehistoric armored fish

 

[Mosaic]

Here's my guy in a holding tank (with my hand for scale, and java fern ). 7-8 years old, 13". I would consider rhino plecs one of the less common but affordable plecos. I haven't seen one in a store since I bought him, but that might just be my area.

 

[hc8719]

is that a common or a rhino mosiac?

whats the max size of rhinos?

 

[Esra]

Now that's an awesome looking fish!

I have a few bristle noses but the biggest is still only about 3"

I'd love one that size!

 

[lovemybarbs]

These are all fabulous!

Here's mine:

 

[zenkatydid]

man i wish i could have a huge beautiful pleco! i can only fit bristlenoses! though "just bristlenoses" are still my favourite fish

here are mine - an albino and a peppermint bn.

 

[Jchillin]

BBN

Sailfin

Albino and Brown

 

[jbarr]

Oh boy! Haha I should've further clarified. I WISH that was my pleco! Boy, I've been kind of saving. THIS is my pleco, a temminicki (is this just a common bristle-nose?)

 

[Burks]

I've recently been struck with the pleco bug as well. Got my first one and now I'm redoing my whole 40g tank plan to center around plecos. I know of a breeder close by that sells BN's at 1/2 the price of chain stores, that's pretty darn cheap. Getting them straight from the breeder is the way to go IMO.

I really want to get some of those Longfin Albino BN's but they are quite pricey.

What do you consider "less expensive"? Below $50?

 

[zenkatydid]

my peppermint was $45 (australian), which is about the most expensive i could let myself go for a fish.

 

[coldmachineUK]

Lovemybarbs, I love that photo! He's a real beaut!

They're all great photos: I wish my plec would show up better on camera but he's a teeny tiny baby right now and the only shot I could get of him near the front of the tank is of his mouth, lol.

 

[Mosaic]

is that a common or a rhino mosiac?

whats the max size of rhinos?

He's a rhino pleco. The store said he'd get 8", books said 10". He topped out at about 13".

Edit: Another pic during a PWC! You will notice the complete absence of plants in his tank. He's a bulldozer.
I need to get some good full body shots with my new camera!

 

[jbarr]

What do you consider "less expensive"? Below $50?

Yes, that is 'less expensive' in my book.

Mosaic, that Rhino is awesome! Wow he looks beastly. Any other fish in that tank with him?
What size tank btw?

 

[Mosaic]

He's an absolute brute. He's got a pair of kribs and 4 Alestes tetras with him. It's a 55g, and I admit at least a 75 would probably be better, but other than him there's almost no bioload.