Starting Almost From Scratch - Pleco Needs A New Home And New Friends

[ugh what]

I have a 5 year old, foot-long pleco named Nigel. Nigel currently lives in a tank shared with my now ex-boyfriend, with some other random fish of his. I'm moving out, and Nigel's coming with me, but I no longer have a tank of my own. So, I need an entirely new setup and everything I get will be based first and foremost on what's best for him. Suggestions on a setup, tankmates, etc?

I'm a newb and don't know what kind of pleco he is, but he's one of the breeds that goes by "common pleco", and he has never bothered other fish in his tank but gets pissed at fish that try to eat off his back.

 

[BigbruiserAl]

A copy and paste for you to get an idea:

These fishes can reach a length of 30-60 cm (1-2 feet). They are normally sold when they are no bigger than 5-10 cm (2-4 inches) but they will grow bigger each year and will eventually outgrow a small aquarium. Be prepared to house your Common pleco in at least 200-375 litres of water (around 50-100 gallons). How old a pleco can become remains unknown, but the maximal lifespan in captivity is believed to be at least 20 years - provided of course that the fish is given suitable pleco care

your going to be looking at maybe £300 of second hand goods to house him to his best.

 

[Marto666]

Where in the world are you? If you cant accommodate him i could take 'nige' off your hands in to a loving home? Just a kind suggestion.

 

[KittyKat]

If he is actually a common pleco, you'd be looking at 6*2*2 ft tank as an ideal because he can get up to 2 ft long. I do not know the growth rates of common plecos, but if he has not grown in 2-3 years (at all, not even 1cm), then you may be able to get away with a 4*2*2 ft tank, but the bigger, the better.

On top of that, you will need a decent filter and should have some sort of basic lighting.

When you actually move out, make sure to take some of the media out of your ex-bf's filter, to put into yours: this is where the bacteria live and what will keep the water clean for the pleco.

Tank mate wise, you may be looking at more common plecos, or maybe some rarer pleco if you are able to have a 6ft tank (take in rescues, there are too many in need of new homes, to encourage shops to keep selling these tank busters) and either some larger tetras and cichlids or lots of smaller ones.. two example stocking options for a 6*2*2:

1. * 30 diamond tetras
   * 1-3 plecos
   * pair of severums or 6-8 Geophagus (eartheaters)
2. * 50-150 small tetras
   * 1-3 plecos
   * range of smaller cichlids like Bolivian rams, cupid cichlids, festivums..

For a smaller tank, the the biggest change would be number of fish.. so in a 4*2*2, I would only keep one common pleco or they may fight because they are territorial.

Also, most plecos benefit from caves, I am sure yours would too. A selection of 2-3 usually goes down well. Aim for the cave to be about 2-6 inches longer then the pleco and 1/2 inch wider in diameter.

 

[england]

You'd be best to get something like a 6/2/2ft

 

[ugh what]

Thanks all.

If I decide to buy new, will I be able to find tanks of these sizes in Petsmart/Petco in the US? They don't have them on their websites but I thought I had seen very large tanks there before. If not, where can I buy online? I really didn't see anything when I was searching.

 

[Wills]

Rena do nice 6 foot tanks that I believe are 6x2x2 you should be able to get them in the US

Wills

 

[KittyKat]

You are more likely to find the tanks online.. Try ebay and a Google search maybe..

 

[scotty]

I have a 5 year old, foot-long pleco named Nigel. Nigel currently lives in a tank shared with my now ex-boyfriend

does your ex boyfriend not find it a bit cramped in there??

 

[james_fish]

I have a 5 year old, foot-long pleco named Nigel. Nigel currently lives in a tank shared with my now ex-boyfriend

does your boyfriend not find it a bit cramped in there??

*Ex boyfriend, but I see what your getting at here...

James.

 

[divegirl]

I have a 5 year old, foot-long pleco named Nigel. Nigel currently lives in a tank shared with my now ex-boyfriend

does your ex boyfriend not find it a bit cramped in there??