Plecos can be as small as 1.5
inches long
or up to 12+ inches long , depending on species. How fast do plecos grow? Plecos grow very quickly, some up to 5 inches during their first year.
Can pleco live in freshwater?
The plecostomus, or pleco, is one of the most commonly kept bottom-feeders in the freshwater aquarium – it is an essential addition to the freshwater cleanup crew. While the plecostomus is still young, it is an avid scavenger, feeding on all kinds of
organic waste
and aquarium debris.
Is a pleco a freshwater fish?
Species Summary Lovingly referred to as a “
sucker fish
” in many circles, the Common Pleco (scientific name: Hypostomus plecostomus) is a freshwater aquarium staple ! These fish have been in the trade for decades and continue to captivate fish enthusiasts.
Are plecos good for tank?
Yes, plecos are good for fish tanks Plecos are one of the best fish for beginner and expert aquarists alike. Plecos are unique, hardy, fun to observe, and easy to take care of. Additionally, they can help prevent
algae bloom
in the tank.
How many plecos should be kept together?
Two to five bristlenose plecos should be kept together. Bristlenose plecos are generally solitary fish. However, they can tolerate several other plecos, given that the tank is large enough. A bristlenose pleco can grow to be five inches long, and it requires plenty of space to live comfortably.
Are plecos easy to keep?
Ensure you have ample room for your plecostomus. Most species can grow up to be between 1 and 2 feet in length. This means that you might need to get a 50 to 100 gallon tank when your fish reaches its full growth, or find it a new home. Plecos also make plenty of mess.
Are plecos dirty fish?
Myth #1: “A pleco will clean your tank!” Plecos are messy fish which produce a lot of waste (and no, they don’t eat poop). They requre heavy filtration and lots of
water changes
. Having a pleco is NOT a substitute for regularly cleaning your tank, doing water changes and vacuuming your substrate to remove waste.
Can I have 2 plecos in the same tank?
“No” to Multiple Plecos Together They often do wonderfully alongside other types of community freshwater fish. When plecos reach maturity, they simply cannot get along with fellow plecos. They can be highly territorial around each other. Therefore, it can be extremely dangerous ever to house them together.
How many plecos Can I put in a 10 gallon tank?
It’s a calm and peaceful fish that likes to hide among the plants or bury itself in the substrate. It’s one of the few plecos that enjoy living in groups, and most experts recommend keeping 3 in a 10-gallon tank.
Will pleco clean tank?
You may even have searched for fish that clean the tank. In freshwater aquariums, “Plecos” (short for plecostomus and used to refer to fish of the family Loricariidae) are one of the most common fish purchased to aid in algae cleanup.
Do plecos get along with guppies?
Some plecos, also known as suckermouth catfish, will get along well with guppies However, the common pleco actually grows much too large to share a tank with guppies. Smaller members of this family make better companions, including the clown peckoltia. The clown peckoltia only grows to an adult size of 3 inches.
Do plecos get along with bettas?
Much like other species of the Pleco family, Clown Plecos make good tank mates for Bettas and other similar fish They feed mostly on algae and uneaten food, which helps keep your tank clean. Like we recommended with Bristlenose Plecos, you can feed these fish algae wafers for supplemental nutrition.
Do all plecos need driftwood?
Plecos are known to feed on driftwood in minimal amounts. Driftwood consists of nutrients that help in the digestion process of Plecos. However, where driftwood can certainly help in enhancing the health of a Pleco, it is not really a need or necessity.
What do plecos need in a tank?
Plecostomus Water Requirements A pH between 7.0 and 8.0, alkalinity between 3° and 10° dKH (54 ppm to 180 ppm) and temperature between 74° and 80° F will suffice for most captive bred species. If the aquarium is kept in a room below 74°, use an Aqueon Aquarium Heater to maintain the proper temperature.
How long do plecos live in a tank?
In an aquarium, plecos don’t grow as large as they do in the wild. Most fish in captivity stop growing when they reach 15 inches long. The lifespan of a plecostomus in captivity is 10–15 years In the wild, plecos can live even longer than 15 years because the fish aren’t at risk of common aquarium diseases.
Can I keep a pleco in a 20 gallon tank?
Each Bristlenose Pleco requires 10 gallons of space, so you can house 2 in a 20-gallon tank Remember to not keep more than 1 male in the same tank. Let’s take a closer look and talk about everything you need to know to keep these awesome fish happy and healthy.
What fish can live with plecos?
Plecostomus are omnivorous bottom-feeders and can be safely housed with fish much smaller than themselves. Plecos generally pair well with cichlids, angelfish, barbs, bettas, other catfish species, gouramis, guppies, hatchets, loaches, mollies and platies.
Can a pleco live alone?
Bristlenose plecos can absolutely live alone in a tank They’re perfectly happy by themselves and don’t always need tank mates to keep them company.
Can I put a pleco in my koi pond?
Plecos are usually found in aquariums and are tropical fish, but they can be beneficial in Koi ponds It is highly recommended that if you decide to add plecos to your pond that you add them during the summer. In the winter, they need to be housed in a aquarium.
Can plecos survive in cold water?
They do just fine in temperature regions as well provided they are not left outside over the winter Most plecos are tolerant of waters ranging from 65 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit (18-30°C), though they prefer temperatures between about 75 and 82°F (24-28°C).
How many plecostomus do I need?
How many plecos can I have in my tank? You should only keep one plecostomus per tank This is because they can be territorial, especially as they age, and having more than one can lead to aggression. By keeping only one pleco, you are also ensuring that there is enough food to go around.
Can I keep a pleco with goldfish?
Rubber-lipped plecos are fairly peaceful algae-eating fish, so generally they will not bother your goldfish They also do well in water temperatures between 70F and 78F, so their temperature range is within that of most goldfish aquariums.
How large do plecos get?
As many, many aquarists have discovered, one of the big problems with the common plecos is that they get big. Really big. These guys tend to max out, in the average home aquarium, at between 12 and 24 inches , and some can get bigger. This puts the fish at a size that is far too large for average home aquariums.
What fish cleans the tank?
Plecostomus They gobble up algae and anything else they find at the bottom of a tank. In the aquarium world they are known as ‘ janitor fish ‘ for their supreme algae cleaning abilities.
Sources
https://www.aquariumsource.com/sailfin-pleco/
https://www.wikihow.com/Set-Up-a-Fish-Tank-for-Plecostomus-Catfish
https://www.liveaquaria.com/category/837/