There are more than 150
different species
of Pleco that have been discovered, and almost all of them shouldn’t be kept in an aquarium. Here are 10 types of plecos you should be aware of and what type of aquarium they require.
How can I identify my pleco?
The dorsal fin is usually gold in color. It may also be dark brown or black depending on the variant. As for the head, the most identifying feature is their large, bulbous red eyes! Their bodies tend to be a
bit larger
compared to other types of plecos, which can limit their movement a bit.
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.
What type of pleco gets the biggest?
Liposarcus anisitsi (Eigenmann & Kennedy 1903) is the snow king pleco (formerly of the genus Pterygoplichthys) and grows to 17 inches in length (30 inches according to Burgess 1989).
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.
What is the most expensive pleco?
Blue-Eyed Pleco – $600 The Blue-Eyed pleco is also known as the Blue Eye Panaque. This pleco makes an incredible show fish that makes an eye-catching addition to a very large tank.
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 size tank should a pleco be in?
For example, the common pleco,
hypostomus plecostomus
, can grow to over 12″ and will eventually need an aquarium of at least 75 gallons , while Otocinclus will be perfectly content in a 10-gallon tank.
Do plecos clean tanks?
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.
What is the
average lifespan
of a pleco?
Some are more carnivorous. Still others mainly eat wood fiber and the small crustaceans who live within the wood. How long do plecos live? A pleco’s life span depends on the species; on average, up to 10-15 years when properly cared for.
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.
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.
Why do plecos need such big tanks?
Breeding Common Plecos in captivity is extremely difficult, and there are a couple of reasons for this. First, you would need a massive tank. Two adult Common Plecos need around 300 gallons of space to stay healthy ! Secondly, the territorial nature of this species makes it tough.
How much does a pleco cost?
Basic Bundle ( US $29.99) – includes all of our most popular features – full-screen handwriting, OCR, flashcards, stroke order diagrams, document reader, Mandarin Audio, and Kai font add-ons – plus the Oxford Chinese Dictionary.
What fish go well with pleco?
Pleco Habitat Companions 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.
How many plecos Can I put in a 20 gallon tank?
Although these fish can look a bit intimidating, they’re actually very peaceful. Now, you might be wondering, how many bristlenose plecos in a 20-gallon tank can I fit comfortably? Each Bristlenose Pleco requires 10 gallons of space, so you can house 2 in a 20-gallon tank.
What is the best pleco for eating algae?
However, if you want an algae-eater to keep with large fish, the common pleco is a good, hardy choice. For typical community aquariums, the various species of bushynose pleco (Ancistrus spp.) and clown pleco (Peckoltia spp.) are better choices.
How do you tell if a pleco is a male or female?
The body shape of a pleco can help a fishkeeper determine the fish’s sex. This works best from a top view. Females generally have a more rounded body, while males are generally skinnier When viewed from the side, females have a more rounded abdomen, which is longer in relation to the rest of the body.
Can pleco live 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 long does it take a pleco to reach full size?
It takes about five years for a common pleco to grow to its full size. A common pleco typically grows 3-5 inches in its first year. After that, its growth rate will slow down until it attains its full size of 20-25 inches.
How big 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.
Are plecos smart?
Registered. Some are smart and some are not as smart It varies from species to species. But since they live a long time and some grow to a great size, they obviously have to be fairly intelligent to get to that size in the wild.
Which is the smallest pleco?
Average Size: 2.4 inches One of the smallest pleco fish, the dwarf snowball , has white polka dots all over its body.
References
https://www.aquariumsource.com/types-of-plecos/
https://www.aquamarinepower.com/types-of-plecos/
https://animals.mom.com/can-multiple-plecostomus-put-same-tank-11126.html