How fast do pleco's grow?

rtbob · 12-20-2010, 08:24 AM

When I bought my 55g in July, 2010 it came with a 5" long pleco. He is now in my 100g and he hasn't grown at all that I can tell. I was told at the time of purchase it was a common pleco. He is well fed and appears happy.

Somewhere I have a real good picture of him I will post, if I can find it.

mk4gti · 12-20-2010, 10:52 AM

I got a BNP in my 90 gallon. When i got him he was less than 2 inches, in a few months he has grown to about 5 1/2 inches. I guess their growth rate depends on tank size, diet and im sure there are other factors. Are you sure its a common pleco, i know there are plecos like teh BNP that stay small maybe he is one of those

rtbob · 12-20-2010, 04:40 PM

My pleco has not a bristle, anywhere. From the pictures I have seen he looks like a common to me. He must be a runt, which is okay with me. Thank you for the input.

rtbob · 12-20-2010, 09:27 PM

I couldn't find the picture I wanted so I took a few more of this guy. Sorry for the quality. At least you get an idea of his coloration.

xoenrt209 · 12-23-2010, 09:08 PM

it REALLY depends on what kind of pleco you got. some only get 3'' some get 3'.
im assuming you just got a 'regular' pleco, Plecostomus hypostomus, and will probably have the potential to get 18'' or more luckily they dont grow too fast and you can probably have it in there for no more than a year. you will have to remove it and put it in a bigger tank or give it to someone who can.
in the future look for smaller bristlenosed plecos for a 10 gallon. the L183 white-seam looks really nice and never gets bigger than 3''. many other bristlenoses will work the white-seams are just my favorite

Tankfull Tropicals · 02-13-2011, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rtbob

I couldn't find the picture I wanted so I took a few more of this guy. Sorry for the quality. At least you get an idea of his coloration.

If it is one off the big guys it can grow a few inches a yr. easy. The small plecos need just over a year from hatching to reach a mature size of 4 ìnches or so. I`m a breeder. Doug

susankat · 02-13-2011, 11:07 PM

With commons there are several different types but each can grow differently. Don't think you have a runt, if anything he could be stunted but may grow in the 100.

They do get big.

mk4gti · 02-15-2011, 12:39 PM

Female BNP do not show the bristles as much. I got one when it was very small and there was no sign of bristles so i was concerned. I thought it was a common pleco but as it grew they started to come out of its face at about 6 months.

susankat · 02-15-2011, 12:47 PM

Female bns will sometimes get bristles but only around the mouth. If it has bristles on top of its head its a male.

mk4gti · 02-16-2011, 09:47 AM

yeah the bristles on the mouth are very small, if the fish is a juvie you wont even notice them.

roacan · 03-23-2011, 09:09 AM

IME when I got a common pleco, he was about 3.5" and after about 2 months, he has grown to about 5" so I have to return him to the lfs.

12-20-2010, 08:24 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	How fast do pleco's grow? When I bought my 55g in July, 2010 it came with a 5" long pleco. He is now in my 100g and he hasn't grown at all that I can tell. I was told at the time of purchase it was a common pleco. He is well fed and appears happy. Somewhere I have a real good picture of him I will post, if I can find it. __________________ 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

12-20-2010, 10:52 AM	#2 (permalink)
mk4gti mk4gti's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 719 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 119 Times Said "Thanks" 24 Times Was Thanked 119 Times in 111 Posts	Re: How fast do pleco's grow? I got a BNP in my 90 gallon. When i got him he was less than 2 inches, in a few months he has grown to about 5 1/2 inches. I guess their growth rate depends on tank size, diet and im sure there are other factors. Are you sure its a common pleco, i know there are plecos like teh BNP that stay small maybe he is one of those

12-20-2010, 04:40 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: How fast do pleco's grow? My pleco has not a bristle, anywhere. From the pictures I have seen he looks like a common to me. He must be a runt, which is okay with me. Thank you for the input. __________________ 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

12-20-2010, 09:27 PM	#4 (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: How fast do pleco's grow? I couldn't find the picture I wanted so I took a few more of this guy. Sorry for the quality. At least you get an idea of his coloration. __________________ 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

12-23-2010, 09:08 PM	#5 (permalink)
xoenrt209 Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 47 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 3 Times Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts	Re: How fast do pleco's grow? it REALLY depends on what kind of pleco you got. some only get 3'' some get 3'. im assuming you just got a 'regular' pleco, Plecostomus hypostomus, and will probably have the potential to get 18'' or more luckily they dont grow too fast and you can probably have it in there for no more than a year. you will have to remove it and put it in a bigger tank or give it to someone who can. in the future look for smaller bristlenosed plecos for a 10 gallon. the L183 white-seam looks really nice and never gets bigger than 3''. many other bristlenoses will work the white-seams are just my favorite

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02-13-2011, 11:07 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: How fast do pleco's grow? With commons there are several different types but each can grow differently. Don't think you have a runt, if anything he could be stunted but may grow in the 100. They do get big. __________________ SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!! 220 Tank build http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/sta...late-3253.html

02-15-2011, 12:39 PM	#8 (permalink)
mk4gti mk4gti's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 719 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 119 Times Said "Thanks" 24 Times Was Thanked 119 Times in 111 Posts	Re: How fast do pleco's grow? Female BNP do not show the bristles as much. I got one when it was very small and there was no sign of bristles so i was concerned. I thought it was a common pleco but as it grew they started to come out of its face at about 6 months.

02-15-2011, 12:47 PM	#9 (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: How fast do pleco's grow? Female bns will sometimes get bristles but only around the mouth. If it has bristles on top of its head its a male. __________________ SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!! 220 Tank build http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/sta...late-3253.html

02-16-2011, 09:47 AM	#10 (permalink)
mk4gti mk4gti's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 719 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 119 Times Said "Thanks" 24 Times Was Thanked 119 Times in 111 Posts	Re: How fast do pleco's grow? yeah the bristles on the mouth are very small, if the fish is a juvie you wont even notice them.

03-23-2011, 09:09 AM	#11 (permalink)
roacan roacan's Photo Gallery Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 161 Location: Windsor, Ontario Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 4 Times Said "Thanks" 97 Times Was Thanked 21 Times in 19 Posts	Re: How fast do pleco's grow? IME when I got a common pleco, he was about 3.5" and after about 2 months, he has grown to about 5" so I have to return him to the lfs. __________________ 37G, Fluval 405 , 48w deep blue, 2x white LED strip, 2x blue LED strip, BNP, 2xGBR, Cory Aneus4x, Trillineatus2x, panda6x, Neon Tetra 8x, Dalmatian Molly, Silver Molly, 2xWood Shrimp, 1 baby molly 20G, 200w heater, powerglo 15w, ac70, Topfin40, 2x platy, 15 little guppies 10G, 100w heater, 26w cfl, sponge filter, 30RCS 10G, Marineland LED, ac mini, betta, honey gourami, clown pleco

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