Common Pleco?

rtbob · 12-22-2010, 08:18 AM

This pleco came with my 55 I purchased 7/25/10. The person I bought this from said he was a common.

He was placed in my new 100g 12/11/10. He hasn't grown very much, if at all over this five month period.

His diet is what ever the cichlids let sink to the bottom supplemented by every other night alternating algae wafers/shrimp pellets.

I have never noticed a "sunken belly". The fish is healthy and active. I was just wondering how fast do these common pleco's grow? If that is what he is.
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James0816 · 12-22-2010, 11:47 AM

They'll grow steadily and not just in a burst. With the proper diet, he will grow rather large. Just be prepared for that.

Another possibility too, depending on his age, is that he could be stunted, which I would hope is not the case.

rtbob · 12-22-2010, 12:01 PM

Hello,

Thank you for your reply.

The person I bought the 55g tank from claimed he bought the pleco from a local LFS about six months prior at 2" in length. I know that a single common pleco will become to large for a 55, but I don't think he is stunted after 11 months. I could be wrong.

Do you think he looks like a common? I sure do. Maybe he is going to be a small one, "the runt of the litter" if you will.

susankat · 12-22-2010, 01:00 PM

It is a common, I have found that for the first year they will grow rather slowly, but then he will start growing pretty fast. Being in a 55 for 11 months I doubt if he is stunted. Does need more food though if you don't have enough algae. Commons will eat anything, from meat to veggies. Feed him more and start beefing him up and he should turn out real nice.

verdifer · 12-22-2010, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Does need more food though if you don't have enough algae.

I haven't kept Freshwater in a while but the enough Algae thing is a mistake with Plec owners, Algae is not primary diet of this fish and the sucker on its mouth isn't there to help clean up algae either another mistake many people make.

Feed it up on Veggies and algae wafers, zucchini is good for them, they will eat fruit and just about any veggie, when I kept Freshwater a long time ago mines loved cucumber but it's mostly water so not much goodness in it.

I just tried to feed mine veggies which wouldn't break up ir go to mush in the tank.

GuppyNGoldfish · 04-01-2011, 06:54 PM

I have the same kind of pleco, I bought it from a LPS and they called it a common. I've had it for about 2 months and he has grown about 2 inches.

susankat · 04-01-2011, 10:15 PM

I wasn't talking about not getting enough algae as to that is what they need. He already stated that he was giving him algae wafers. I just stated he needs to give him more food to beef him up.

This one is a little over 4 years old and he is mine

mec102778 · 04-01-2011, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by susankat

This one is a little over 4 years old and he is mine

Beautiful fish Susan!

rtbob · 04-02-2011, 06:58 AM

Update: Three months since original post.

He still hasn't grown.

My African Feather Fin catfish has doubled in size.

I now supplement their diet with nightly Omega One algae wafers and shrimp pellets.

Twice a week I feed blanched broccoli or zucchini.

I now fast this tank for 24 hours once a week also (recommended for Mbuna Cichlids)

He is still doing what pleco's do. Tries to stay out of the light. When I feed the Mbuna he and the Feather Fin graze the substrate. Mr. Pleco sticks himself to the glass and eats what ever is growing there, also likes my driftwood.

I don't know what I would do if he got as big as yours Susan. That is one huge fish!

12-22-2010, 08:18 AM	#1 (permalink)
rtbob rtbob's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 665 Name: rtbob Location: Austin, TX Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 230 Times Said "Thanks" 77 Times Was Thanked 188 Times in 155 Posts	Common Pleco? This pleco came with my 55 I purchased 7/25/10. The person I bought this from said he was a common. He was placed in my new 100g 12/11/10. He hasn't grown very much, if at all over this five month period. His diet is what ever the cichlids let sink to the bottom supplemented by every other night alternating algae wafers/shrimp pellets. I have never noticed a "sunken belly". The fish is healthy and active. I was just wondering how fast do these common pleco's grow? If that is what he is. DSC04701.JPG DSC04736.JPG DSC04743.JPG __________________ Do fish get thirsty? How to fishless cycle your aquarium http://www.aquariumforum.com/f66/fis...cle-15036.html Information on API FW test kit http://www.aquariumforum.com/f2/api-...ion-15347.html

12-22-2010, 11:47 AM	#2 (permalink)
James0816 James0816's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,455 Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 34 Times Was Thanked 526 Times in 454 Posts	Re: Common Pleco? They'll grow steadily and not just in a burst. With the proper diet, he will grow rather large. Just be prepared for that. Another possibility too, depending on his age, is that he could be stunted, which I would hope is not the case.

12-22-2010, 12:01 PM	#3 (permalink)
rtbob rtbob's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 665 Name: rtbob Location: Austin, TX Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 230 Times Said "Thanks" 77 Times Was Thanked 188 Times in 155 Posts	Re: Common Pleco? Hello, Thank you for your reply. The person I bought the 55g tank from claimed he bought the pleco from a local LFS about six months prior at 2" in length. I know that a single common pleco will become to large for a 55, but I don't think he is stunted after 11 months. I could be wrong. Do you think he looks like a common? I sure do. Maybe he is going to be a small one, "the runt of the litter" if you will. __________________ Do fish get thirsty? How to fishless cycle your aquarium http://www.aquariumforum.com/f66/fis...cle-15036.html Information on API FW test kit http://www.aquariumforum.com/f2/api-...ion-15347.html

12-22-2010, 01:00 PM	#4 (permalink)
susankat Pleco n bn breeder n BOSS susankat's Photo Gallery Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 5,420 Name: Susan Location: Tulsa, Ok Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 4,151 Times Said "Thanks" 1,618 Times Was Thanked 1,809 Times in 1,549 Posts	Re: Common Pleco? It is a common, I have found that for the first year they will grow rather slowly, but then he will start growing pretty fast. Being in a 55 for 11 months I doubt if he is stunted. Does need more food though if you don't have enough algae. Commons will eat anything, from meat to veggies. Feed him more and start beefing him up and he should turn out real nice. __________________ SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!! 220 Tank build http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/sta...late-3253.html

04-01-2011, 06:54 PM	#6 (permalink)
GuppyNGoldfish Fish Lover GuppyNGoldfish's Photo Gallery Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 386 Name: Slim Location: Ohio Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 465 Times Said "Thanks" 5 Times Was Thanked 42 Times in 41 Posts	Re: Common Pleco? I have the same kind of pleco, I bought it from a LPS and they called it a common. I've had it for about 2 months and he has grown about 2 inches. __________________ 50 Bowfront, 2 Acei, 2 Yellow Labs, 1 Orange, 1 Albino, 2 Blue African Cichlids 30 Gal, 3 Fantail Goldfish, 1 Black Ryukin, 1 Common Pleco 20 Gal, Mollies, Platies, Cories, Algae Eaters 15 Gal, Swordtails, Balloon Mollies, Rasboras 10 Gal, 2 Knight Gobies 10 Gal, 2 Bolivian Rams 1.5 Gal, Male Betta

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04-01-2011, 10:15 PM	#7 (permalink)
susankat Pleco n bn breeder n BOSS susankat's Photo Gallery Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 5,420 Name: Susan Location: Tulsa, Ok Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 4,151 Times Said "Thanks" 1,618 Times Was Thanked 1,809 Times in 1,549 Posts	Re: Common Pleco? I wasn't talking about not getting enough algae as to that is what they need. He already stated that he was giving him algae wafers. I just stated he needs to give him more food to beef him up. This one is a little over 4 years old and he is mine __________________ SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!! 220 Tank build http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/sta...late-3253.html

04-02-2011, 06:58 AM	#9 (permalink)
rtbob rtbob's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 665 Name: rtbob Location: Austin, TX Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 230 Times Said "Thanks" 77 Times Was Thanked 188 Times in 155 Posts	Re: Common Pleco? Update: Three months since original post. He still hasn't grown. My African Feather Fin catfish has doubled in size. I now supplement their diet with nightly Omega One algae wafers and shrimp pellets. Twice a week I feed blanched broccoli or zucchini. I now fast this tank for 24 hours once a week also (recommended for Mbuna Cichlids) He is still doing what pleco's do. Tries to stay out of the light. When I feed the Mbuna he and the Feather Fin graze the substrate. Mr. Pleco sticks himself to the glass and eats what ever is growing there, also likes my driftwood. I don't know what I would do if he got as big as yours Susan. That is one huge fish! __________________ Do fish get thirsty? How to fishless cycle your aquarium http://www.aquariumforum.com/f66/fis...cle-15036.html Information on API FW test kit http://www.aquariumforum.com/f2/api-...ion-15347.html

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