How long does it take for common plecos to reach full size?

Question

any info on plecos regarding size would be great...only on common plecos..the ones with rings on their bellies..

please answer the question about how long it takes...

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE in months..years..days...i dont care how you answer...just answer!

Answer 1

I bought a one inch pleco for my 10 gallon tank seven months ago, and it has only grown an additional inch. Growth rates are very dependent on water quality, food availability and tank size.
A

Answer 2

Common plecos reach about two feet long. They should be immediately placed into a tank available to contian them, 150+ gallons. If you wait to put them in a proper environment, they will probably die at an early age from being stunted. Their spines will begin to curve and they will die a painful death.

Common plecos, as they age, are not all that great community fish. They do not eat algae alone, and often starve due to their owner's incompetence. I hope you will be supplementing your pleco's diet with protein(meaty foods) and a lot of fresh veggies. If you are a beginner, I suggest taking the pleco back to where you got it. It takes an experienced aquarist to care for these monsters.

If you have one, and have trouble relocating it to a suitable home, try monsterfishkeepers.com

If you got a common pleco for algae problems, I suggest trying to find the root of the problem before adding animals to take care of problems you probably created. Make sure there isn't excess light or too little light, etc.

Answer 3

Mine have gotten 12" in the first year, then I sell them to people with ponds and start off with a new baby. They do get big fast and need a big home to grow in. Plus when they get big they tend to go for fish food instead of the alge. If you need help with alge get a snail or another smaller type of algae eater.

Answer 4

http://www.plecofanatics.com/forum/