Plecos

[RATTIE]

My friend gave me a Common Pleco about 8" that was housed in a 29g. I wanted to know if he is stunted or if he will still get full size.

[CatB]

there's no real way of telling but i'd guess he'll still grow, i've seen 8'' goldfish that were in like a ten gallon be put into an appropriately sized tank and still grow...

[Neatfish]

What's stunted? I'm new.

[CatB]

Originally Posted by Neatfish

What's stunted? I'm new.

it's where the outside of a fish stops growing because the tank is too small. like how pet stores say you can put a goldfish in a 1 gallon bowl because they'll stop growing when the tank becomes too small. unfortunately, their organs keep growing a lot, and A: this stresses them out (imagine if it were you) and B: it can kill them (their heart fails trying to support the growing organs or they physically pop).

[Gsneufeld]

I'm no expert, so correct me if I'm wrong, but I think I've read that only marine fish suffer permanent organ stunting. Again, I have only a very basic understanding of the actual physiology, but I think that all fish excrete some kind of metabolic acid that stunts their growth, which I think is why fish never reach their size potential of their wild counterparts... So a goldfish in a bowl, (or common pleco in a 29G) would be swimming in that stuff, and be severely stunted, however when moved to a big tank, the fish is in a much weaker concentration, and starts to grow normally... Maybe marine fish aren't as
adaptable?
Anyway, your pleco will be fine and should reach his/her full size and be healthy now. Hope that helps, good luck.

[garfieldnfish]

He will grow some more but may never reach his full potential size. But either way is is better off in a larger tank and he will be greatful if you provide him with a 75 gal or up.

[RATTIE]

Thanks

[Diana]

George is right:
Fresh water fish live in places where the water level of the stream or pond can fluctuate. The growth regulating hormones get diluted and washed away in the rainy season, but are concentrated in the dry season when the stream may flow very sluggishly or even stop flowing, and break into several pools. The fish pause in their growing until the conditions are better. When the rains come again the water dilutes and washes away the accumulated stuff in the small pools, and the fish can grow again.

[secuono]

Plecos grow slowly after they reach 6-8in. If you put him in a big tank, keep it nice and clean with good food, he may shoot up 2in in a few months and then go back to slow and steady growth.