Royal Pleco?

[420Loach]

hi all, know i havent been around in awhile, but the addiction still stands.

i saw a Royal pleco at an lfs the other day(around 6 inches long, nice, fat and happy) for 26 bucks at the lfs.

Q#1: ive never seen one before and was wondering if it will get much bigger then 6 inches? (hoping its not). would a(nearly empty) 55 be able to house it?

Q#2: is 26 dollars a good price to pay for a royal plec?

thank yous

Loach

 

[ashleigh]

Hi Loach, unfortunately they get pretty big. They are in the panaque family- I have seen pictures of fish around two feet in length. check out riverwonders website, they have som ein the gallery I think.

 

[Purple]

yup - they aint small as Pl*cs go - though she'll do in a 55 for a while, it won't last for ever before you'd have to get a bigger tank (good excuse though huh).

The price sounds good for that fish at that size...........

Never even see them over here (sigh)

(Hey Loach - you got my 500th post - woohoo - lol)

 

[420Loach]

eh, bummer. i just got done reading on the panaques too, oh well, 26 bucks can buy alot more stuff anyway hehe.

i saw a gold dojo loach that caught my eye as well and was substantially cheaper. and i know hed be fine in my tank.

thanks for the help people. *puts Purples 500th post Plaque on wall.

 

[ashleigh]

I know, I would love to have one someday too. They are gorgeous fish. I like those gold dojos though-

 

[Lotus]

Yeah, those royal plecos are tankbusters. Unless you wanted to eventually put him in one of your ponds....

I saw a huge dojo in Petsmart the other week. He was really healthy looking, too. I love the dojo I have, but the tank is already fully stocked

 

[420Loach]

couldnt do that hehe, broke down my ponds about a month ago. needed more time for other stuff hehe, im giving my 40 gal to my cuz cause he wants a tank(actually clearing way for a new one eventually) the royal plec was cool though,(especially like the blood red eye heheh)

the gold dojos were in the same tank as the regulars when i saw em, and they kinda stuck out more. plus with my dark gravel he'll stick out nicely.

 

[wayne]

I would have/would still buy it. I have one and it's rate of growth isn't amazing, and it's activity level is pretty low. I have never seen one that's 2 feet long, and rarely see them over 10 inches. Pretty messy though. I think a well filtered 55 is perfectly adequate

 

[lighter]

Royal pleco not only get BIG but they poo a lot too. Do make sure you have a good filtration in the tank to handle all its poo poo! I'm serious!