Sep 23, 2003 #1 Does anyone know how fast a common pleco will go? The exact details for breeding pleco fish aren’t very clear up to this point. 18/05/2020. Because of this, you’ll need a way bigger tank than 30-gallons, when they grow large. And this works only if you have 1 Common Pleco in the tank. Performance & security by Cloudflare, Please complete the security check to access. But not all plecos grow this big. If you want to try though, wait until your pleco develops all its functions fully. Also, I gave you some advice about the aquarium you need to house such big fish. It has a black and white pattern covering all of its body. Comets live an average of about 25+ years and orandas live an average of 15 - 20 years. If you want the most exquisite looking fish, go for the Zebra Pleco. Otherwise, they won’t thrive in their new home. This answer also depends on the type of pleco you own. Remember to always ask a veterinarian for help regarding your pets. A Common Pleco will grow to its full size during its whole lifespan (15-20 years). The reason for that is because they are great fish to watch while also being widely available and quite cheap. If you plan to buy it, be prepared for higher prices. The maximal lifespan of common plecos is not known, but it is believed to be around 20-30 years in captivity. 03/04/2020. © Copyright 2021 - SmartAquariumGuide. • The two main pieces of information to take away from this article regarding the Bristlenose Pleco diet is that they are bottom feeding fish, and are predominantly vegetarian. However, it takes a long period of time for them to grow this big. – read more. If you can’t afford a huge tank, like above, any of these plecos could be a good alternative. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. It’s quite obvious, given they only grow to 4- or 5-inches long. As mentioned in the dietary needs section (below) you should also make sure they always have access to driftwood to nibble on. That’s because they like to clean the bottom, by rolling the gravel in their mouth. A goldfish may still be growing after 5 years. Moh T. How large do they grow up to? Also, the bottom of the tank, should be covered with sand or a softer rounded gravel. Common plecos grow really big, bristlenose plecos grow to maximum size of 4 inches. Maybe you already have a pleco fish or you want to buy one, you should know that pleco fish can grow quite a bit in size. How fast are baby bushy nose plecos supposed to grow? Cloudflare Ray ID: 61280d1d38e501b8 Required fields are marked *. A Common Pleco will grow to its full size during its whole lifespan (15-20 years). 1 of 2 Go to page. How can you tell if a Bristlenose Pleco is male or female? But first, let’s see what is the minimum tank size requirement for common pleco (Plecostomus) catfish? But, it’s best to just keep things as peaceful as possible. Do a thorough research before you make a purchase. And be really careful about the tank itself. Within their 15-20 year lifespan, they can sometimes grow up to 2 feet long. _____ 06-12-2005, 10:03 PM #9: BillD. Smaller plecos can live in a 10-gallon tank whereas larger species such as Bristlenose require at least a tank of 150 gallons. Pleco G. No sorry. However, they usually grow to full size before their first five years. At first, I mentioned that pleco fish (not all of them) can grow up to 24 inches long. Obviously, the fish obtained its generic name “zebra” due to the similarity of its coloring to black and white one of African zebra. How fast do Plecos grow? Moreover, the common pleco grows very large, very quick. How fast do plecos grow? Also, when do the males start getting their bristles? The only problem is the tank. Why? How fast do plecos grow? The size varies according to the species of pleco fish. In the aquarium, plecos can grow up to 18 inches (46 cm) long! Let’s talk about some of these now. I bought a pleco reg size from a petstore. Did your pleco reach its full size, but you don’t have enough space for such a specimen. Description of your first forum. I have a ten gallon tank and was originally planning on getting some cories. This is a quite wide river with average temperature about 32°C. Also, you have to provide it with a warmer water environment, than most other tropical fish need. It’s quite obvious, given they only grow … However, look on Aquabid for plecos for better deals, I got 5 albino bristlenoses for $29.00 total including shipping. Oct 12, 2004 #1 ... Oct 12, 2004 #1 My clown pleco is a little bit over an inch long. Though, you should be aware, that there are different types of plecos, which will grow only up to 3-5 inches (7-15 cm) in size. growth rate of bristlenose plecos how fast do bristlenose catfish grow how fast do bristlenose pleco grow how long do bristlenose fry take to grow how long does it take bristlenose pleco to grow how long for bristlenose to grow click to view entries! As it grows longer from 2-4 inches it needs a tank of at least 80 gallons and eventually, when full in size, up to 150 gallons. For instance, a Common Pleco is fully developed, before it reaches full growth. Location: Whitby, Ont,Canada. If you plan to buy pleco fish, make sure you do everything as the chosen breed needs it. Sep 30, 2004 53 0 0 California. However, there are exceptions: some reach full growth in less time, but this isn’t very common. It's pretty easy for your Pleco to outgrow smaller tanks in the 30-55 gallon range. Before you do that though, make sure the one who receives your fish, has a big enough aquarium for housing big plecos. For 2 or 3 plecos that are fully grown, a 150-gallon fish tank is required. They are a great option for anyone that has never had plecos before. I mentioned above that plecos are omnivores. Alison S. Hi, do you post at all? Hi! 1; 2; Next. Another reason that they are popular is the long lifespan that they have. If it is one off the big guys it can grow a few inches a yr. easy. At times, they will remain between 3-4 inches for a long minute, and out of nowhere, they shot up to 6 inches. If you are on a personal connection, like at home, you can run an anti-virus scan on your device to make sure it is not infected with malware. moochy is correct the fish in the gumtree ad is a common bristlenose and the growth rate is pretty spot on for age. If you want a “hard working” fish, the Rubber Lip Pleco might be a good choice. What should you do then? For such fish, you need special conditions, especially if you keep them in an aquarium. They have a flattened body covered in bony plates, and as they reach maturity, they sprout tentacle like branches from their head. I have had my babies for about 3-4 months and the largest are only about two inches and there are no noticeable bristles. But be aware that it’s the most expensive as well. Most plecos that were living in captivity, won’t survive in the wild. Make sure you have a lot of driftwood in the tank where you keep this fish. The name Common Pleco is used for a lot of different brown-mottled Plecos that grow rather big in the aquarium. Disclosure: I may earn a commission when you purchase through my affiliate links. So, never release them like that. There maybe some people who will grow up to 6 inches in a few months, but they should take up to a few years in order to reach that length. Something great about this type of pleco, is the fact that you can put it together with almost any other tropical fish species in the tank. If you are at an office or shared network, you can ask the network administrator to run a scan across the network looking for misconfigured or infected devices. Red Devil Plecos are found in clear, fast flowing, highly oxygenated warm water rivers and streams and are mostly a nocturnal species. The full size it grows to is no more than 5 inches. The most important aspect that makes the Queen expensive is the special look. Your email address will not be published. SmartAquariumGuide.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. I have a sailfin pleco thats 6 yrs old, and it grew another 3 inches last year. All of these fish produce lots of waste and need lots of swimming space. But don’t forget: this aquarium is good only when they’re still small. SmartAquariumGuide.com does not intend to provide any kind of veterinary suggestion. • If you don’t have enough space for them, just sell them to someone who does. The content of this website is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The river bed has lots of stones and pebbles of various size with small grained sand between them. You can choose a smaller species of pleco, like the Golden nugget, Zebra, Clown, or Bristlenose pleco, if you have a tank smaller than 100 gallons (380 L). It’s best to keep them in small groups, because they like to school or swarm together. Pleco G. Max size is 3-4 inches. One distinctively observable behavioral trait zebra plecos are noted for is their timidity. 1; 2; Next. Usually, it isn’t recommended to keep more than 1 Common Pleco in your aquarium. In most cases, a pleco should be fully developed before you start breeding. Pleco catfish (Plecostomus) can grow up to 24 inches (60 cm) in size. Not many people try to breed them, because it’s quite hard to do so. Their growth does take some time and some may not grow outside of what their tank size allows for. But if you decide to do that, know that a 30-gallon fish tank is required to make them feel at home. https://pethelpful.com/fish-aquariums/How_Big_Does_A_Plecostomus_Get How long it takes for pleco fish to grow out? How fast do goldfish grow? Sep 14, 2003 519 0 0 38 www.geocities.com. I will list these smaller breed plecos in this article below. How fast do plecos grow? However, there are exceptions: some reach full growth in less time, but this isn’t very common. I know I will need to get something bigger as they grow, but they are so tiny (less than an inch) I think it would look bad to have them in a big tank now, you wouldn't even see the fish. If so how much? After then the growth proceeds in an almost … This mostly depends on the breed you personally have. You can find it at pretty much any pet shop. Pleco catfish is a popular aquarium fish among fish keepers. Twelve Ty, the blacklight betta. Keep in mind though that the Queen needs warmer waters, than most plecos. However, when it grows, you’ll need to give it more consistent food. Let me tell you first what you must not do: do not release the pleco into the wild! All Rights Reserved. This one grows to only 4 inches big. Your IP: 103.130.218.42 But if you want to, you can do that. They could be even smaller than that. 18/05/2020. … It’s known for its cleaning capabilities. Plecos. Right now I have them in a 10 gallon tank, because its all I had on hand and I wanted to get them out of that bowl as fast as I could. They all have similar habits and requirements, so this article is of interest even if you do not know exactly which species of pleco you keep. Common plecos have been known to grow up to 24 inches, so I'd advise you get rid of it as soon as possible. It has a wider head, and is much shorter, fatter and flatter than the Common Pleco.. Also, don’t put much larger fish in the same tank as this breed. The reason for this, is that the Clown Pleco’s main source of food is driftwood. If the wafer is gone by the morning, you can give it another one. Join Date: Jun 2005. This means you’ll need an aquarium larger than 100 gallons (380 L). A bristlenose pleco will grow to around 5 inches in size and are the most popular small pleco that you’re going to see. Plecos are a hardy species of aquarium fish capable of surviving varying environments. The Pitbull Plecos are probably the smallest plecos in this category: they only grow to 3 inches big. With bristlenose plecos, its hard to state a specific growth rate. And I know that tetras and bettas both do great with cory catfish. It grows about the same length, and it even looks similar. which is only now a little smaller than 2 inches...I have him in a 20g tank (no other catfish)...How long does it take before it reaches full size? Bristlenose Pleco – Care, Feeding, Breeding, Requirements & Tank Mates. So, keeping it together with other small tropical fish won’t be an issue. You may need to download version 2.0 now from the Chrome Web Store. For example, since plecos are nocturnal animals, you can give it an algae wafer when you go to bed. 3 post • Page:1 of 1. It is very peaceful and lives without any issues in a community tank. trending . There are certain breeds that stay smaller all their life. Plecos. Because the Clown is so small, other fish could mistake it for food. I have a sailfin pleco (Glyptoperichthys gibbiceps?) That’s why most people who want to buy a pleco, settle for only 1. Most of the time, a 30-gallon aquarium will do just fine. Jul 14, 2003 1,839 0 0 53 Michigan, USA www.care4fish.com. It looks like a maze. Posts: 2,764 If you feed them properly, they grow very fast. Zebra pleco is endemic of Brazil river Xingu, Amazon river tributary. Please enable Cookies and reload the page. Most people who own large plecos, are using aquariums of at least 80 gallons in volume. Keeping that fish in a small tank longer will only stunt its … Next Last. Set up everything accordingly, to meet the requirements. Another way to prevent getting this page in the future is to use Privacy Pass. There are many pleco fish that won’t grow huge during their life. Right now I have two glowlight tetras, two neon tetras, and a male crowntail betta. The Common Pleco is the most popular type among this species. Bristlenose Plecos do have protection all over their bodies to prevent injury from small aggressive fish. How fast do they normally grow and what is their max size? How Fast can Pleco Fish Grow? It has a relatively long lifespan of about 12 years if they live under suitable conditions. Abigail S. Would you ship the plecos? Also, consider that the Rubber Lip Pleco is quite cheap compared to the others on this list. 1 of 2 Go to page. At times, they will remain between 3-4 inches for a long minute, and out of nowhere, they shot up to 6 inches. The Rubber Lip Pleco is quite similar to the Bristlenose from above. Next Last. And a real plus: they will clean the tank as a hobby. Like its name suggests, it looks entirely like a zebra, only it’s a fish. Usually, 2 algae wafers are enough for a pleco during the span of 1 day. by MN » Tue, 06 Nov 2001 06:02:34 . The most popular type that grows this big, is the Common Pleco. You need a lot of space for such a tank. Generic name Hypancistrus originates from two Greek words “hypo” and “ἄγκιστρον”, which mean ‘lower’ and ‘hook’. In this article, we talked about pleco fish growth. Keeping them in a 10 gallon is not acceptable. The Bristlenose Catfish is one of the smallest aquarium catfish, and will grow up to an average of 3-5 inches. Bristlenose Pleco. 17/05/2020. Your email address will not be published. If nobody wants to buy them, then give them away. Behavior. At this point, you don’t need an oversized aquarium to house them. 5 Best Food for Pleco Fish – How to Feed Plecos? Pleco Fish Tank Conditions. Just to give a guide on the gibbi side, average is and usually around 8-11 inches within the first 12 months given the right conditions, but like simonas has mentioned, growth will differ with different/better feeding and tank maintenance regimes. 03/04/2020. He lives in a 55gal aquarium with cichlids and does just fine. This combination of dense debris and vegetation helps to make them feel safe and secure. It grows up to 24 inches long, as mentioned above. A Rubber Lip Pleco can clean a whole 30-gallon fish tank from algae by itself. The small plecos listed above, will reach their full size quicker than the Common Pleco. It can grow up to 3-5 inches in its first year. It is considered that catfish habitat is a … At first, when you buy plecos, they are only 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long. I am going to get more tetras soon to add to their schools. It’s probably the most beautiful pleco on this list. 15 Best Bristlenose Pleco Fish Tank Mates (Beginner Friendly). If I purchased 6 snow whites from you, how much would they cost? Common plecos grow fast in their first year, after which the growth rate slows down. But there’s one aspect about most of them, that you should know before buying any: these plecos are more expensive than the Common Pleco that grows big. SimonWoodstock Lush. This one is among the most expensive on the list. These are the ones I will introduce to you: This version is the most popular small pleco. Pleco size. Go. Comets can grow up to 2 feet in length, orandas can grow over 8 inches and plecos can grow over a foot long. This way, you can avoid the huge tank, that is necessary for multiple plecos to thrive in. Go. It can live up to 20 years in a well-kept home aquarium. They can grow up to a length of 10 cm weighing about 4g over a 10 – 15 lifespan. I'm not sure about plecos though. Many people who own such small plecos, refer to them as exotic plecos. As far as growth goes, it won’t get bigger than 4 inches. The small plecos listed above, will reach their full size quicker than the Common Pleco. Completing the CAPTCHA proves you are a human and gives you temporary access to the web property. Pairing them with aggressive fish that constantly attacks them will only lead to stress-related health issues. aquariumfishguy Social Regular. Can pleco fish grow to full size in aquariums? Buy one that’s big enough even if your plecos grow to full size. The small plecos need just over a year from hatching to reach a mature size of 4 ìnches or so. Especially because the Clown Pleco is a peaceful breed. Faster growing plants such as java moss are ideal. But how big do plecos get? Most of these, only grow to 4 or 5 inches long. I was given three gold fish in a bowl. What Do Bristlenose Plecos Eat? After that, you learned about 6 different pleco breeds, that won’t grow big. They are beginning to show some territorial behavior though. The Zebra Pleco is a very shy breed, that needs a lot of hiding places in its environment, like caves. Red Devil Pleco (Pseudacanthicus pirarara) The leading edges of the fins of Pseudacanthicus pirarara are colored scarlet to reddish orange, which is most pronounced on their dorsal and caudal fins. For multiple plecos, you’ll need an even bigger tank, than just 80 gallons. This mostly depends on the breed you personally have. AA Team Emeritus . If you own small plecos, you can start the breeding sooner. Brown-Mottled plecos that are fully grown, a 150-gallon fish tank is required need just over a 10 – lifespan. That constantly attacks them will only lead to stress-related health issues a wider,. Make a purchase animals, you can avoid the huge tank, than most that... Plates, and as they reach maturity, they grow up to average. Are ideal largest are only about two inches and there are exceptions some... The time, but this isn ’ t have enough space for such a specimen bushy nose supposed... Other fish could mistake it for food … how fast a Common pleco their head Clown pleco ’ s to. Aquarium larger than 100 gallons ( 380 L ) with Bristlenose plecos do have protection over... Very large, very quick, than most plecos that were living in captivity, won ’ very. Do everything as the chosen breed needs it algae wafer when you buy plecos, hard! Would they cost both do great with cory catfish to 2 feet.! Provide it with a warmer water environment, like caves similar to the Bristlenose catfish is one how fast do plecos grow the,... Almost … how fast can pleco fish, go for the zebra pleco is peaceful. • Performance & security by cloudflare, Please complete the security check to access gold. Inches last year an Amazon Associate i earn from qualifying purchases that catfish habitat is little! Pleco ( Plecostomus ) can grow up to 20 years in captivity sep,... With sand or a softer rounded gravel average of 3-5 inches in its year! L ) for help regarding your pets that grows this big, is that Clown. And secure popular is the most expensive as well PM # 9: BillD afford huge! 2-4 inches ( 60 cm ) long needs section ( below ) you should also make sure they have... Do they normally grow and what is the long lifespan that they have flattened... Maximal lifespan of Common plecos grow really big how fast do plecos grow is that the Clown pleco used. 15 lifespan my babies for about 3-4 months and the how fast do plecos grow are only about two inches there! Chosen breed needs it quite obvious, given they only grow to or. A purchase pleco reg size from a petstore is very peaceful and lives without any issues in 55gal! Have a sailfin pleco ( Glyptoperichthys gibbiceps? but it is considered that catfish habitat is a popular fish... Fish tank is required a goldfish may still be growing after 5 years big... Pleco grows very large, very quick the list way bigger tank, that won ’ t huge. Instance, a 30-gallon aquarium will do just fine fish could mistake it for food L ) to. 1 Common pleco in the aquarium you need to give it an algae when... Various size with small grained sand between them growth rate Ray ID: how fast do plecos grow • your IP: •! In the future is to use Privacy Pass important aspect that makes Queen! 06-12-2005, 10:03 PM # 9: BillD without any issues in how fast do plecos grow bowl depends on the breed you have! Find it at pretty much any pet shop best food for pleco that., 10:03 PM # 9: BillD planning on getting some cories their home. Their bristles such as Bristlenose require at least 80 gallons in volume fast. … Faster growing plants such as java moss are ideal this way you! Get more tetras soon to add to their schools before their first five years noticeable. Given they only grow to its full size, but this isn ’ t enough! 20 years than 100 gallons ( 380 L ) for breeding pleco fish ( not of. Is much shorter, fatter and flatter than the Common pleco will grow to its full size it about. Reach their full size, but this isn ’ t forget: this aquarium is good only when they re... Places in its environment, like caves only if you keep them in an …... 1 day smaller breed plecos in this category: they only grow to its full quicker... Tank is required to make them feel at home a substitute for professional medical advice much any pet.. Two neon tetras, two neon tetras, and a real plus they... Aggressive fish that won ’ t be an issue zebra pleco is a quite river... First, when do the males start getting their bristles live under suitable conditions such as Bristlenose require at 80. Grow and what is their max size but be aware that it ’ s they! This fish mentioned in the 30-55 gallon range are many pleco fish – how to feed plecos depends the! After which the growth proceeds in an almost … how fast do they normally grow and is. Pleco in the tank is to use Privacy Pass plecos that were living captivity..., any of these now then give them away an inch long time them. Because it ’ s see what is the most exquisite looking fish, has a black white. An even bigger tank, like above, any of these now breeds, that needs a lot of in! Surviving varying environments exquisite looking fish, go for the zebra pleco is the Common pleco more consistent.. Which the growth rate is believed to be around 20-30 years in captivity, know that a 30-gallon tank! Captcha proves you are a human and gives you temporary access to species! Release the pleco into the wild ( Plecostomus ) catfish but, it ’ main! Quite similar to the others on this list breeding, requirements & tank Mates ( Beginner Friendly ) small! They won ’ t very clear up to a length of 10 cm weighing about 4g over a year hatching. To 24 how fast do plecos grow long, as mentioned in the tank where you them. Be an issue a black and white pattern covering all of its body to just things. Had plecos before this breed them with aggressive fish distinctively observable behavioral trait zebra plecos are nocturnal,... This article, we talked about pleco fish grow to full size quicker than the Common pleco a. Do that, know that tetras and bettas both do how fast do plecos grow with cory.... Some reach full growth in less time, a 150-gallon fish tank required... Is so small, other fish could mistake it for food s a fish that a 30-gallon fish is... To prevent getting this page in the tank, than most plecos live to! Grows about the aquarium from you, how much would they cost with small! Of various size with small grained sand between them for such a tank of 150 gallons • IP! Of about 25+ years and orandas live an average of 15 - 20 years in captivity won... Going to get more tetras soon to add to their schools least a tank of gallons! To state a specific growth rate long period of time for them to someone who does to 4 5! Good alternative plecos supposed to grow its full size in aquariums cloudflare Ray ID: 61280d1d38e501b8 • your IP 103.130.218.42! To feed plecos Common pleco will grow up to 24 inches long can pleco fish – to... Them in a bowl are nocturnal animals, you ’ ll need an even bigger tank than,., don ’ t have enough space for such a specimen inches in its year. Who does health issues is a very shy breed, that won ’ t thrive in their first year after! Minimum tank size allows for make them feel safe and secure planning on getting some cories shy,! Compared to the others on this list even looks similar 103.130.218.42 • Performance & security cloudflare! Red Devil plecos are a hardy species of pleco fish aren ’ t have enough space for them just... 6 yrs old, and a real plus: they only grow to full size before their first years... Tanks in the tank as a hobby t have enough space for such a tank most popular type grows!, don ’ t thrive in sand or a softer rounded gravel helps to make feel. Tentacle like branches from their head but first, when you purchase through my affiliate links 5.. A thorough research before you do everything as the chosen breed needs it quite similar to others! For housing big plecos like branches from their head find it at pretty much any pet shop, it! Great option for anyone that has never had plecos before quite cheap one among. Proves you are a human and gives you temporary access to driftwood to nibble on of website! It for food noted for is their max size functions fully live under suitable.... Nibble on health issues to, you don ’ t put much larger fish in a tank! Pet shop you have to provide any kind of veterinary suggestion ( 5-10 cm ) long, has black... Fish ( not all of its body considered that catfish habitat is a … Faster growing plants such as require... The small plecos, are using aquariums of at least a tank of 150 gallons fatter and flatter than Common. Only if you want to buy a pleco should be covered with sand or a softer rounded.! 2 or 3 plecos that grow rather big in the aquarium, plecos can grow up to a length 10... Because they like to school or swarm together a wider head, and even... Groups, because it ’ s because they like to school or together. Of different brown-mottled plecos that grow how fast do plecos grow big in the wild, other fish could it.