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 tell what kind of pleco I have?
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.
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).
What is the most rare pleco?
One of the rarer plecos in the hobby, the Typhoon is also one of the prettiest. Large, carnivorous and territorial; this is an
awesome fish
– just expect to pay a lot for one if you find one… but they are well worth it!.
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 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.
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.
Why is my pleco turning GREY?
The most common reasons a pleco will turn white are poor nutrition, stress, disease, or inadequate tank conditions We will discuss why your pleco is turning white and things you can do to prevent it from dying.
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.
How long does it take for 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 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.
How big does a royal pleco get?
These are peaceful, active fish that grow to 3 to 8 inches in length , making them well suited to the larger aquaria that should be used for the royals. Both of these genera are accomplished jumpers, so their tanks must be tightly covered.
Is Zebra pleco rare?
The Zebra Pleco (scientific name: Hypancistrus zebra) is a relatively rare freshwater species that is highly sought after by aquarists. Often known as the Imperial Pleco, these fish are not as widespread as other types of plecos. Thus, they usually come with a higher price tag.
What fish is worth the most money?
Pacific Bluefin Tuna : The World’s Most Expensive Fish.
Can a pleco live with a Betta?
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.
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 long can a pleco live out of water?
They can also wriggle on dry land from one water body to another in search of more favorable conditions. Plecos can live up to 30 hours outside water if they store enough oxygen in their bellies — this is why plecos are sometimes seen gulping air at the water’s surface.
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.
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.
Will pleco outgrow tank?
Plecos are not recommended for tanks under 10 gallons. They are sure to outgrow a 10-gallon tank eventually, although it will most likely take years.
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.
Why do plecos have L numbers?
The “L” in the name comes from “Loricariidae” which is the very large catfish family these Plecos belong to This categorising of the Pleco fish into L-numbers is not a formal scientific designation, but allowed people at the time to identify a common name for each species.
Are Bristlenose plecos expensive?
Generally, commonly found plecos like the Rubber-lipped pleco or the Bristlenoses will are priced between 20 and 50 USD , depending on size and age. The plecos listed on this page will be 5 to 10 times more expensive than common plecos.
What is a rhino pleco?
The Rhino pleco is a peaceful fish that can be kept in community aquariums with other non-aggressive medium sized fishes.
What plecos can go together?
You should try to house one pleco in a community tank with other species. Some excellent tankmates for plecos include: Hatchetfish Danios.
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.
How old do plecos live?
Males guard eggs. Plecostomus are primarily nocturnal and will spend daytime hours resting along the benthos in dark crevices. The average lifespan for plecostomus is 10 to 15 years.
Can clown plecos live with Bristlenose plecos?
Clown Plecos and Bristlenose Plecos can be placed in the same tank, as long as there is enough space While they can be compatible as tank mates, a lack of space can lead to aggression. Keep in mind that both fish inhabit the lower half of the tank, and they can be territorial.
Can I put 2 Bristlenose plecos together?
Yes, you can keep two bristlenose plecos together However, bristlenose plecos are actually solitary, highly territorial fish.
Do plecos need caves?
A barren tank will stress your fish and make it shy and bored. Plecos need
hiding spots
throughout the tank where they can stay during the day because they’re nocturnal Hiding spots can be created using all sorts of aquarium decorations like caves, tunnels, dark pipes, wood, and artificial plants.
Do plecos have teeth?
Plecos do have teeth These teeth are quite strong because they are designed to scrape food pieces and plants off the surface of rocks. The teeth of some plecos are so rough, you cannot keep them in acrylic tanks because they will scratch up the surface of your tank. Plecos are however very unlikely to bite.
How big do Bristlenose plecos get?
The Bristlenose Pleco is one of the smallest catfish, growing to only 5 inches They are brown, green, or gray with white or yellow spots; some have uneven coloring, with lighter and darker splotches on various parts of their bodies.
Why is my pleco floating?
it might be a quirky fish or it might be stress. your nitrates are high do a water change to bring them down, and see if he keeps floating. i had a pleco that used to gulp air.
Why are my fish glass surfing?
“Glass surfing” is when a fish – such as betta fish, gouramis, and cichlids – repeatedly swims up and down along the tank walls. It could be caused by stress, boredom, defense of territory, and other reasons.
Do common plecos need wood?
They’re wood eaters and having a nice piece of driftwood in the aquarium is required They need the driftwood for healthy digestion and because they do enjoy grating on it. For those that don’t eat wood, having driftwood in the tank will still be useful for them.
Are there any plecos that stay small?
The Gold Spot Dwarf Pleco remains small throughout its life and only reaches 2 inches of maximum body size. Such body measurements make this fish one of, if not, the smallest pleco species kept in home aquariums.
Is Sand OK for plecos?
The ideal substrate for plecos is fine gravel or soft sand because it will allow the pleco to filter through the substrate to find food. The tank should be densely planted, especially with broad-leafed species like Java Fern and Anubias, to ensure that the pleco can feed on algae growing on the surface of the leaves.
Sources
https://www.wikihow.com/Set-Up-a-Fish-Tank-for-Plecostomus-Catfish