PlanetCatfish.com

Hey I was wondering if anybody knew the growth rate of some of the larger plecos because I want to put some in a pond with other catfish that get big. I can purchase larger ones easily and fairly inexpensive but the joy for me is in watching them grow. I don't want them to be outgrown and eaten by other fish so any info would be great thanks.

As with most fishes, it is really a matter of how well they are taken care of. I would expect most loricariids to reach spawning size (about 3/4 of maximum size) in two years. Smaller spp. like Otocinclus will reach spawning size in a year. Basically, that means I would expect a typical Hypostomus or Glyptopterichthys to reach about five to six inches the first year, eight the next, and then grow fairly slowly for the next few. This is dependent on ideal water and feeding conditions.
-Shane

I've had P. pardalis grow from ~2" to ~8" in less than a year. This was in a 4' x 2' x 2' tank, shared with a pair of severums, and on a diet consisting almost exclusively of tubifex. I'd expect them to grow more slowly on a more typical pleco diet.

I've had P. pardalis reach 12 inches in their first year after that they grow much slower.