Say hello to the common plec, one of the fish it is highly recommended to NOT obtain. Why you may ask? This fish starts out very nice and small and cute, it doesnt stay that way.
Plecs are generally advertised as algae eaters and are advertised and sold as such. Yes they do eat algae however that is only at smaller sizes, once they reach a certain size they stop eating the algae thats growing in your tank but continue to eat and grow.
The term common plec is for the fish species Hypostomus plecostomus however there are about half a dozen other fish that are sold as the common plec, they look very similar and can be very difficult to tell apart.
So why not buy a plec? Simple, they get very big (upto 20″!) so if you are going to buy one, be very aware of this and ensure you have an aquarium big enough to house one.
Synonyms | Hypostomus pardalis, Liposarcus jeanesianus, L. pardalis, L. varius |
Distribution | South America. Has also been introduced to parts of Asia. |
Sexual Dimorphism | Mature adult males will possess thickened pectoral fin rays. Mature adult females may appear wider when viewed from above. |
Maximum Size | 50cm (20”) |
Water Parameters | Unfussy, providing good water quality is maintained. |
Temperature | 20-30 deg C (68-86 deg F) |
Compatibility | Community |
Lighting | No special requirements |
Housing
Their main requirement is a large amount of space, they grow really large!
Feeding
Plecs are omnivorous although the majority of their diet should be vegetable matter. They will also happily eat pellet food also but this isnt a replacement for the vegetable matter.