Bristle Nose Pleco Not Growing

[Gavinfleury29]

So I've had this pleco for over a year now about and he has grow but since around November he hasent grown at all. He is in my 30g bowfront tank. What may be preventing him from growing
Actually I think it's a she because I have seen zero bristles on her

 

[techen]

Upgrade tank would be my first choice.

 

[Gavinfleury29]

But these fish are able to be in 20g tanks and mines a 36g so she should be fine

 

[lrhodes]

I'd say she is fine in a 30 gallon.... about how big is she? They don't get giant.

 

[Gavinfleury29]

They get 6 inches In length she is like 1 1/2- 2 maybe even 2 1/2

 

[lrhodes]

http/www.fishlore.com/fishforum/pleco-plecostomus/111185-bn-pleco-growth-rate.html

This forum has a lot of mixed opinions on BN pleco growth rates. And my BN were both pretty small when I got them from my sisters tank. 2 inches was the biggest one. (They were well over a year old. And I don't think they were babies from the original ones.)
What are you feeding them?
Mine finally started growing! I've had them for 6ish months and I'd say the male is around 5 inches. And the female around 4.

 

[RaechalLee]

I always thought female bristlenose plecos didn't have many bristles or bristles at all but I may be wrong. I have an albino bristlenose pleco and he is about 6-7 inches. He lives in a 75 gallon and was about 5 inches when I bought him at the fish store.

 

[RRaquariums]

I have a 1 year old brown male BN and he's only about 3 inches he lives in a 90 gallon tank and he hasn't grown much since I moved him in to the 90 from a 20 long where he was doing just great.
I'd say from my limited experience with my BN that each fish is different and they will all grow to different sizes this may have nothing to do with age or size of tank. I had a friend that moved his 2 inch BN from a 55 gallon to a 75 and the fish grew about 2 more inches that year.

 

[DoubleDutch]

BN's are omnivores at the herbivore side. But for growth (and staying healthy) they'll need proteins as well. Could it be it is on a vegs/algae-diet only, so it's having a lack of proteins / vitamins aso ? Some species need wood for their digestion as well. Is there any in your tank ? 30G is big enough !!
 
Cheers Aad

 

[Gavinfleury29]

Ok

 

[Tongue_Flicker]

If it looks healthy and behaves normally then that's okay.