Age Vs Size Of Pleco's

[bmonki]

Hiya, a friend of mine has offered me a pleco who has been beaten up by his tank mates, she's not entirely sure what type of pleco he is but has said he looks quite similar to a clown pleco picture i showed her... he's 5 years old and 7" long - what species would that be do we think? would he be fully grown at that age?? thanks

 

[minnnt]

I doubt it would be a Clown Plec at that size, they stay pretty small.

I've got a feeling it will be a Common or Gibby... They usually are

 

[bmonki]

so how big would they get?

 

[xingumike]

Twice that size.

Easiest thing to do is get a photo.

 

[bmonki]

would a 4'x1'x1.5' be too small for him if he's a common? i think its roughly 170 litres and i have a few cories and a clown plec but plenty of places to hide

 

[bmonki]

p.s., im waiting on a pic atm

 

[xingumike]

Is it the tank in your sig?

There is nowhere to hide in there really and is a little small for my liking for a common

 

[bmonki]

it has a few more plants in there now but yeah, basically the corner behind the cave and behind the wood are now shaded almost completely with plants, and im planning on getting more when funds allow

 

[bmonki]

thats the best pic she could get... common?

 

[xingumike]

Yes.

Looks pretty beat up as well, see how it's caudal fin is in shreds?

Could be the angle of the photo but it also looks an odd shape, possibly stunted.

The tank looks pretty disgusting as well.

That will rearrange any plants you have, by rearrange I mean uproot in all probability.

 

[bmonki]

yeah basically her dad is getting rid of his tank. 'Alec' as they called him was beaten up pretty nastily by his tankmates - hence why his fins are so shredded... (im a sucker for an underdog)

all our plants are fake and easy to put back in place tbh and im gonna enlarge the cave quite a way tonight... either way even if i dont keep him forever and get him rehomed/up our tank size at least he'll be safe with my fishies

 

[xingumike]

What filtration do you have?

 

[bmonki]

an internal 3 stage with carbon, 500 L/H

i also do at least once a week a gravel vac and min 50% wc

 

[xingumike]

Ok, fairly small them, they do produce vast amounts of crap so you are aware.

Don't use carbon myself.