Tank size for common pleco?

jac8724

jac8724

AC Members
Dec 1, 2006
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16
Chicago
Hey guys, when i started keeping fish and had a ton of algae in my tank i rushed off to a petsmart and asked them what to do. they told me to buy a pleco, so i did. yes i know what crappy advice this is now =)

But ive grown attached to the little guy and i know i cant keep him in a 55 hex forever. Im looking at getting a new tank for christmas. Thinking about a 72 gallon bow front. would this accommodate a common pleco? What size tank do they really need for when they are full grown?
 
How about a 125 gal for an adult sized one....
 
:iagree:

Honestly, there are much better plecos than commons that are smaller, less messy, and better algae eaters. If you can't get a 125 or larger now, you would be wasting your money upgrading every few months just to accomodate one fish.

The best thing to buy when you have algae is a scraper...
 
Oh, I don't know. It seems like plecos like to spend most of their time in a favorite cave. yes, they do come out at night but they don't really swim, swim. They seem to more or less swim in short bursts of their body length or slightly more then stop and scrape the glass or whatever. I don't think a 125 is truly necessary for a pleco. My next door neighbor kept a 14" long one in a 55 hex for years. He was a happy soul and the only time he moved was to come out to eat! So, I am sure I will be bombarded with opposing opinions on this. Yes, my commons are in a 180gallon, however, they spent years in a 37 gallon prior to that.

I have many different kinds of fish in my tank. Watching them and their activity levels makes me want to re-examine what people think of as adequate space for their fish. I think people need to determine how active a fish is in addition to how large they get to determine tank size. For instance, I think that the 180 is barely adequate for my 4" long rainbows. They are incredibly active and all over the place.
 
I agree. Yes they get big, but since all day they will hide, I think they would be fine in a 55-75 gallon. Some people may think its cruel, but since their so inactive I don't think a 125 is completely necessary. Its really the bioload they have to me, over size, so good filtration is necessary!
 
i had a common pleco for a while in 20 high because i did not know any better when i got started. he got big (8" upon trade) but loved his algae wafers. man, he'd bump into rocks and fish to eat those tablets. nothing stopped him! im glad he has a big home now. he was a good fish.
 
Galen, ive had one before to, i finally got the heart to give him away because I had him growing out in a 20 gallon high too (didnt know any better) and he got 7ish inches and I'm like OK .. i have to let you go. lol I really liked him though, he's in a 60 gallon with a friend of mine =) They are good fish, but would head bump my platys when they came near his cucumber or wafer lol
 
jac8724 said:
Hey guys, when i started keeping fish and had a ton of algae in my tank i rushed off to a petsmart and asked them what to do. they told me to buy a pleco, so i did. yes i know what crappy advice this is now =)
Click to expand...

That must be in the petsmart fish department training book or something. I've heard a petsmart employee tell someone that as well. He was busy with another customer though, so I directed the guy who was asking to the tank with the otos.
 
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