Id And Sexing Please

[Salam]

I got two plecos off someone local the other day. They will live with my malawis. It's a 4ft tank, so should be big enough.

The lady didn't know what they were or whether they are male/female. Could anyone help please? Are they both common or anything special? Their pattern is different, one is more leopard style.

Pleco 1

Pleco 2

Both

Someone needs to clean the outside of the glass

Pleco and albino cory fighting for an algae wafer

Spot the kuhli

 

[xingumike]

Yes they are both 'commons'

What are the full tank dimensions?

 

[Salam]

They are now in a Vision 260, 4ft tank.

 

[minnnt]

Won't be big enough long term Salam.

Maybe you need the vision 400?!

 

[Salam]

Really? I thought 4ft was enough Kev said we could accommodate a Vision 400 in that spot.

 

[minnnt]

For a fish that has the potential to reach 18"-24" i'm affraid not. You'll also need some mega filtration. They're poo machines!!

 

[Salam]

I just checked all the dimensions of various juwels and apart from the length and depth there isn't much difference. Definitely not in height, all about 20 inches. I 'rescued' them out of a bog standard 3 ft tank, so they already have a nicer and bigger home.

2nd external filter is definitely on the cards as we will have to overstock with malawi and them on top we know that there needs to be mega filteration.

Will see how it goes, at the moment they are 8inches max, so if I see that they grow too big we'll upgrade (maybe we'll do that anyway once I start my new job). Or maybe their growth has already been stunted due to growing up in a smaller tank? How does that work?

 

[Dieses Madchen]

I'm definitely in agreance with minnnt on this one. I have a common plec in a 4ft tank at the moment (he will be moved and I need an upgrade to accomadate my oscars. The plec is just barely a year old and already a whopping 11inches! You will definitely have to ugrade the tank to keep both of them. How big are they now? They already look rather big.

**edit** you already posted their size You have some time before you need to upgrade. But with two commons, you may want a 6ft tank. Have you thought about the possibility of taking the commons back and getting a smaller type of plec, like a bristlenose pair or bulldog plecs?

 

[Salam]

Thanks, I really take in all suggestions. I want the best for them so I will either upgrade early next year (Is that ok? Not too late?) or rehome them and get bristlenoses instead. At the moment they have enough space to roam about and as I said, I got them of someone's 3ft (by 12 by 16 so tiny) tank and they are doing much better already but I want the best for them so either upgrade or rehome in the future.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

There is a thread on here somewhere that has a list of plecs that are 8in or less. I will try to find it for you.

 

[minnnt]

Synodontis petricola or multipunctatus would be a better option for a malawi tank anyway.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

Synodontis petricola or multipunctatus would be a better option for a malawi tank anyway.

+1!!

Featherfins and Upside Downs are great too

 

[Salam]

Thanks guys! Will look them all up and see what would work best / we like best.

If we decided to keep them, would the Vision 450 be enough?

 

[Dieses Madchen]

For 2 common plecs I wouldnt want anything less than a 6x2x2 honestly

I dont know the dimentions of a vision 450

 

[Salam]

Something like 5ft x 18 x 22, but will have to check again.