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