I have a good collection of pleco(IMO) and was wondering about growth rates,ie to full size,and longevity.
On the larger side I have common,sailfin,magnum and royal pleco.
While on the smaller side I have queen arabesque,whiptail,king tiger,various BN`s,rusty and an L205.
As some are more than average size at 1 to 2 years old I would like to find out whgen I can expect them to be full grown and how long they can live on average.
I`m just curious and would appreciate any help or suggestions.
Thanks
Chris
Pleco groth rates??
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MatsP
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Most plecos should live for more than 10 years. Smaller ones may not live as long as bigger variations, but a small fish like Hypancistrus Zebra has been reported to live 15 years in captivity. They are relatively slow growers, going from an inch to two inches in about a year, and then growing slower from there on.
As to growth rates, there are some that grow very quickly, and others a bit slower. Common and Sailfin plecos are amongst the ones growing quite quickly, they will reach 10-12" within a year from a size of 4" at the beginning of the year.
I've had a bristlenose for a bit over a year, and it's grown a bit more than 100%, so it's gone from about 1.5" to over 3" in that year. I doubt that it's fully grown at this point, but it's mature enough to have spawned three times since I got her a mate a few months ago. The mate is about 2" long now, and has grown a little bit since it was bought, but it's also spent four weeks starving when it was looking after the young ones. I wouldn't call that "quick growing".
Smaller, Otocinclus and close relatives, are shorter lived, and may only live for a year or two in an aquarium.
Obviously, in nature, the life expectancy is quite different, because there are predators available that will take both small and big pleco's as "lunch".
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Mats
As to growth rates, there are some that grow very quickly, and others a bit slower. Common and Sailfin plecos are amongst the ones growing quite quickly, they will reach 10-12" within a year from a size of 4" at the beginning of the year.
I've had a bristlenose for a bit over a year, and it's grown a bit more than 100%, so it's gone from about 1.5" to over 3" in that year. I doubt that it's fully grown at this point, but it's mature enough to have spawned three times since I got her a mate a few months ago. The mate is about 2" long now, and has grown a little bit since it was bought, but it's also spent four weeks starving when it was looking after the young ones. I wouldn't call that "quick growing".
Smaller, Otocinclus and close relatives, are shorter lived, and may only live for a year or two in an aquarium.
Obviously, in nature, the life expectancy is quite different, because there are predators available that will take both small and big pleco's as "lunch".
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Mats
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MatsP
- Posts: 21038
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- Location 1: North of Cambridge
- Location 2: England.
I guess it does depend on the specie of Otocinclus, as well as under what conditions you keep them. Some Oto's will live longer than others [bear in mind that I haven't actually kept ANY Otocinclus species, I'm just writing what I've read in other places].
As a general rule, from what I've understood, Oto's are shorter lived than the bigger species of Loricariid's. That was my point.
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Mats
As a general rule, from what I've understood, Oto's are shorter lived than the bigger species of Loricariid's. That was my point.
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Mats