This is a common pleco, right?

mindy · 02-15-2013, 02:10 PM

Sorry about the terrible cell phone pictures...

https://www.dropbox.com/s/it9zxdhrjc...214_214905.jpg

https://www.dropbox.com/s/4opmeuxldk...214_215113.jpg

(I hope the links work)

He is about 4 inches. At first he grew very fast but now it seems he hasn't really grown lately. He has a spotty belly and those dots down his sides are spiky things. When I google common pleco they usually have a plain belly.

MSG · 02-15-2013, 02:13 PM

Definitely a common pleco. Not sure how much they sell for in NZ but they're about $1-$2 here when they're 1" long.

The one I gave away was 10"-12".

Fish always grow fast till they hit about 4" then they grow at a much slower pace since they're large enough to fend off most predators, but he'll definitely get to at LEAST 12" after a year or two.

Chulios66 · 02-15-2013, 02:17 PM

MSG you gave one away that long. Must've been aa beast.

Anyways, that is a commen pleco.

wicca27 · 02-15-2013, 02:37 PM

they can get huge ive seen them a good 2 feet long

VAtanks · 02-15-2013, 02:48 PM

Click image for larger version

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yup common pleco

mindy · 02-15-2013, 05:00 PM

Great. Thanks guy

He is going back to the store because while I thought I did the research first I didn't do a good enough job with it.

My tank is quite big (66 gallons, 4 feet long) but it isn't big enough - even though the research I did before getting him said it was.

I am NOT looking forward to getting him out of the tank. I get freaked out by my smaller fish wiggling in the net, I can't even imagine what it would be like to scoop him up. Thank goodness my husband will do it for me! Haha! Any tips on getting him in the net? He is very fast!

Also, that picture gave me the willies!

I'm not sure how much they sell for in NZ either

I think I paid about $5 for him and he was about 2 inches.

**thelub** · 02-15-2013, 07:42 PM

I catch all my plecos by hand. They do have spines, but I've never been injured by them. They will get tangled in a net and can hurt them when you try to take the net off the spines.

66 is too small for a full grown pleco. I just got rid of mine because it was creating a GINORMOUS amount of poop on a daily basis and I got tired of cleaning it out.

mindy · 02-16-2013, 12:47 AM

I know now that my tank is too small. I have already said I was going to return him.

Also, there is no way my husband is going to catch him by hand. He will have to go in a net. We will just have to be careful, I guess.

Diana · 02-16-2013, 05:37 AM

Do not catch with net. Use a smooth sided container, like tupperware or a large glass.
They have spines that can get caught in a net.

There are several species of fish sold as Common Plecos, so the spots or no spots is not really an issue.
Most of them grow at least a foot long, and 2 feet is common.
They can survive in warmer waters in the US, when irresponsible aquarium keepers release them. They can be found in Florida.

mindy · 02-16-2013, 01:17 PM

Thanks for the tip. We will use something smooth then.

I have no worries about him surviving in any water around here. First, the only open water I can find here now is the ocean, second, the water around here isn't warm enough for him even in the summer, and well, third, I would never release a fish into the environment like that anyway.

CrypticLifeStyle · 02-16-2013, 03:33 PM

Catch him by hand, you'll be fine. I do it with my 14" all the time, then you can get a grip on him. Finding homes for large plecos never seems to be a issue for anyone down here. Always a willing buyer. Not sure what the fish scene is up there.

mindy · 02-16-2013, 09:22 PM

There is NO way I could catch him by hand. I am very squeamish when it comes to doing things like that. My husband is pretty much the same as me when it comes to things like this. The only person I know who would do it is going back to work on Tuesday morning (he works away) and I'm sure he wouldn't like to come to our house at 7:30 am on Wednesday to get him out anyway. Haha!

I will use something smooth sided and then we will all be happy.

There is no fish scene where I live. I have to bring him back to the store where I got him. They will buy him back (for more than I paid for him since he is so big now) and sell him to someone who has the room for him. We have to drive over 200 km one way to get to my lfs.

plantedtankfan · 02-16-2013, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mindy

There is no fish scene where I live. I have to bring him back to the store where I got him. They will buy him back (for more than I paid for him since he is so big now) and sell him to someone who has the room for him. We have to drive over 200 km one way to get to my lfs.

I wish my local petstore does that.

rileynapalm · 02-16-2013, 10:42 PM

i get after my fellow employees for using nets. it's a shame to see plecos get their spines caught in nets. =/

but if you're looking for a smaller productive pleco, look in to the bushy nose variety. they get about 4" max. and if you want a bit fancier type, try to find a gold nugget pleco. they only get a tad bit bigger. =]

mindy · 02-16-2013, 11:05 PM

I bought 2 bushy nosed plecos but they ended up dying

I got them from a new store and I don't think he had the greatest suppliers then. His fish were much cheaper than the regular store I go to (this store is 200 km in the opposite direction...) and he had the fish I wanted so I gave it a shot. The little plecos were so tiny. I don't know if maybe they were too small? I'm not sure.

My regular lfs doesn't carry bristle nosed plecos, unfortunately. It really makes no sense to me, tbh, because they are more suitable for more tanks.

My plan is to get some otos. Hopefully they will do well in my tank.

02-15-2013, 02:10 PM	#1
mindy Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Newfoundland Posts: 990	This is a common pleco, right? Sorry about the terrible cell phone pictures... https://www.dropbox.com/s/it9zxdhrjc...214_214905.jpg https://www.dropbox.com/s/4opmeuxldk...214_215113.jpg (I hope the links work) He is about 4 inches. At first he grew very fast but now it seems he hasn't really grown lately. He has a spotty belly and those dots down his sides are spiky things. When I google common pleco they usually have a plain belly.

02-15-2013, 02:48 PM	#5
VAtanks Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: VA BCH Posts: 233	yup common pleco __________________ 29g Tetra Tank 100g Planted Angel/Clown Loach I can't spell...Im an engineer, I do math

02-16-2013, 03:33 PM	#11
CrypticLifeStyle Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5/100%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Boston / Leominster Posts: 566	Catch him by hand, you'll be fine. I do it with my 14" all the time, then you can get a grip on him. Finding homes for large plecos never seems to be a issue for anyone down here. Always a willing buyer. Not sure what the fish scene is up there. __________________ 1x 180g - 1x 75g - 1x 65g - 4x 55g - 1x 29g - 1x 20g - 1x 15g Geo's - Cory's - Loaches - Ram's - Firemouths - Convicts - Endlers - Tetras - Plants - Jack Dempsey's - Shrimp

02-16-2013, 10:42 PM	#14
rileynapalm Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Ohio Posts: 103	i get after my fellow employees for using nets. it's a shame to see plecos get their spines caught in nets. =/ but if you're looking for a smaller productive pleco, look in to the bushy nose variety. they get about 4" max. and if you want a bit fancier type, try to find a gold nugget pleco. they only get a tad bit bigger. =] __________________ -29 gallon South American --15 gallon black neon habitat ---I like fish. They don't talk back, bark or pee on the floor.

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02-15-2013, 02:13 PM	#2
MSG Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: East Coast Posts: 270	Definitely a common pleco. Not sure how much they sell for in NZ but they're about $1-$2 here when they're 1" long. The one I gave away was 10"-12". Fish always grow fast till they hit about 4" then they grow at a much slower pace since they're large enough to fend off most predators, but he'll definitely get to at LEAST 12" after a year or two.

02-15-2013, 02:17 PM	#3
Chulios66 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Filer,ID Posts: 210	MSG you gave one away that long. Must've been aa beast. Anyways, that is a commen pleco.

02-15-2013, 02:37 PM	#4
wicca27 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: May 2009 Location: Fort Knox Posts: 2,706	they can get huge ive seen them a good 2 feet long

02-15-2013, 05:00 PM	#6
mindy Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Newfoundland Posts: 990	Great. Thanks guy He is going back to the store because while I thought I did the research first I didn't do a good enough job with it. My tank is quite big (66 gallons, 4 feet long) but it isn't big enough - even though the research I did before getting him said it was. I am NOT looking forward to getting him out of the tank. I get freaked out by my smaller fish wiggling in the net, I can't even imagine what it would be like to scoop him up. Thank goodness my husband will do it for me! Haha! Any tips on getting him in the net? He is very fast! Also, that picture gave me the willies! I'm not sure how much they sell for in NZ either I think I paid about $5 for him and he was about 2 inches.

02-15-2013, 07:42 PM	#7
thelub Newbie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: SE Washington Posts: 605	I catch all my plecos by hand. They do have spines, but I've never been injured by them. They will get tangled in a net and can hurt them when you try to take the net off the spines. 66 is too small for a full grown pleco. I just got rid of mine because it was creating a GINORMOUS amount of poop on a daily basis and I got tired of cleaning it out.

02-16-2013, 12:47 AM	#8
mindy Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Newfoundland Posts: 990	I know now that my tank is too small. I have already said I was going to return him. Also, there is no way my husband is going to catch him by hand. He will have to go in a net. We will just have to be careful, I guess.

02-16-2013, 05:37 AM	#9
Diana Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Contra Costa CA Posts: 5,013	Do not catch with net. Use a smooth sided container, like tupperware or a large glass. They have spines that can get caught in a net. There are several species of fish sold as Common Plecos, so the spots or no spots is not really an issue. Most of them grow at least a foot long, and 2 feet is common. They can survive in warmer waters in the US, when irresponsible aquarium keepers release them. They can be found in Florida.

02-16-2013, 01:17 PM	#10
mindy Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Newfoundland Posts: 990	Thanks for the tip. We will use something smooth then. I have no worries about him surviving in any water around here. First, the only open water I can find here now is the ocean, second, the water around here isn't warm enough for him even in the summer, and well, third, I would never release a fish into the environment like that anyway.

02-16-2013, 09:22 PM	#12
mindy Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Newfoundland Posts: 990	There is NO way I could catch him by hand. I am very squeamish when it comes to doing things like that. My husband is pretty much the same as me when it comes to things like this. The only person I know who would do it is going back to work on Tuesday morning (he works away) and I'm sure he wouldn't like to come to our house at 7:30 am on Wednesday to get him out anyway. Haha! I will use something smooth sided and then we will all be happy. There is no fish scene where I live. I have to bring him back to the store where I got him. They will buy him back (for more than I paid for him since he is so big now) and sell him to someone who has the room for him. We have to drive over 200 km one way to get to my lfs.

02-16-2013, 11:05 PM	#15
mindy Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Newfoundland Posts: 990	I bought 2 bushy nosed plecos but they ended up dying I got them from a new store and I don't think he had the greatest suppliers then. His fish were much cheaper than the regular store I go to (this store is 200 km in the opposite direction...) and he had the fish I wanted so I gave it a shot. The little plecos were so tiny. I don't know if maybe they were too small? I'm not sure. My regular lfs doesn't carry bristle nosed plecos, unfortunately. It really makes no sense to me, tbh, because they are more suitable for more tanks. My plan is to get some otos. Hopefully they will do well in my tank.