{"id":7397,"date":"2022-08-25T21:15:22","date_gmt":"2022-08-25T21:15:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/?p=7397"},"modified":"2023-09-12T13:09:21","modified_gmt":"2023-09-12T13:09:21","slug":"pleco-size-by-species","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/pleco-size-by-species\/","title":{"rendered":"Pleco Size: How Big Do Plecos get? (By Species)"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"7397\" class=\"elementor elementor-7397\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6ee2eac elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6ee2eac\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-798e5d5\" data-id=\"798e5d5\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a139d71 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a139d71\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.17.0 - 01-11-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>Keeping pleco catfish in an aquarium can be a good idea, or a very bad idea.\u00a0<\/p><p>Mainly because some plecos can get enormous in your aquarium, which makes them a bad choice for most.\u00a0<\/p><p>And be aware, even though the pet store might say &#8216;pleco&#8217;, there are hundreds of different pleco species all growing up to different sizes! So, how big do plecos get?<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Pleco sizes can range from 3 inches up to 20 inches depending on the species.\u00a0<\/span><b>The average full grown size of the common pleco is 15 inches.There are also many species that stay smaller like the bristlenose pleco (6 inches) or the zebra pleco (4 inches).<\/b><\/p><p>Here&#8217;s a full guide with the most common pleco species and their size, so you can pick the best species.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9deed60 elementor-widget elementor-widget-jet-table\" data-id=\"9deed60\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"jet-table.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-jet-table jet-elements\">\n\t\t<div class=\"jet-table-wrapper jet-table-responsive-mobile\">\n\t\t\t<table class=\"jet-table jet-table--fa5-compat\">\n\t\t\t\t<thead class=\"jet-table__head\"><tr class=\"jet-table__head-row\"><th class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-694c5e4 jet-table__head-cell\" scope=\"col\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\"><h3>Pleco Species<\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/th><th class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-23e8931 jet-table__head-cell\" scope=\"col\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\"><h3>Full size<\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<tbody class=\"jet-table__body\"><tr class=\"jet-table__body-row elementor-repeater-item-8eeb890\"><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-11dfd90 jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Bristlenose pleco (Ancistrus cf. cirrhosus) <a href=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/bristlenose-pleco-size\/\">Full size guide <\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-d0e62f3 jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Up to <b>6 inches (15,2cm)<\/b>, exceptions up to 7 inches (17,8cm)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr class=\"jet-table__body-row elementor-repeater-item-18e6f2f\"><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-553783d jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Common pleco (Hypostomus punctatus)\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-f98204a jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Avg. aquarium size <b>15 inches (38cm)<\/b>, 24 inches in the wild (61cm)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr class=\"jet-table__body-row elementor-repeater-item-b9b8e0c\"><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-423ba22 jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Clown pleco (Panaqolus maccus)\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-d04df19 jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Up to <b>4 inches (10,2cm)<\/b><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr class=\"jet-table__body-row elementor-repeater-item-65abc1b\"><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-b713739 jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Flash pleco (Panaqolus albivermis)\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-0c85a59 jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Up to <b>5 inches (12,7cm)<\/b><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr class=\"jet-table__body-row elementor-repeater-item-47b5669\"><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-1684aff jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Zebra pleco (Hypancsitrus zebra)\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-49620b9 jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Avg. <b>3 inches (7,62cm)<\/b>, some specimens 4 inches (10,2cm)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr class=\"jet-table__body-row elementor-repeater-item-c758009\"><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-b2e224c jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Hypancistrus sp. (L333))\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-150d619 jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Up to <b>6 inches (15,2cm)<\/b><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr class=\"jet-table__body-row elementor-repeater-item-2456de3\"><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-f960a65 jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Queen Arabesque Pleco (Hypancistrus sp. (L260))\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-bd3f35f jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Up to <b>4 inches (10,2cm)<\/b><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr class=\"jet-table__body-row elementor-repeater-item-2e0425b\"><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-b0b3919 jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Snowball pleco (Hypancistrus inspector)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-3389bfc jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Avg <b>5 inches (12,7cm)<\/b>, big specimens 6 inches (15,2cm)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr class=\"jet-table__body-row elementor-repeater-item-a4808b6\"><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-3f79c93 jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Leopard frog pleco (Peckoltia compta)\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-a066f00 jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Up to <b>4.3 inches (11,0cm)<\/b><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr class=\"jet-table__body-row elementor-repeater-item-d06da72\"><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-05f960b jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Candy Striped Pleco (Peckoltia vittata)\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-0456fe7 jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Up to <b>5.5 inches (14cm)<\/b><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr class=\"jet-table__body-row elementor-repeater-item-8984b70\"><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-dacdc96 jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Peppermint pleco (Paracistrus nudiventris)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-a66cd68 jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Up to <b>7 inches (17,8cm)<\/b><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr class=\"jet-table__body-row elementor-repeater-item-54d4edb\"><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-1030ee6 jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Golden Nugget Pleco( Baryancistrus xanthellus)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-aa61b32 jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Avg. <b>9 inches (23cm)<\/b>, some specimens 10 inches (25,5cm).<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr class=\"jet-table__body-row elementor-repeater-item-4a27ceb\"><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-ba40bc0 jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Sailfin Pleco (Pterygoplichthys pardalis)\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-d4e4c3a jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Up to <b>20 inches (50,8cm)<\/b><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr class=\"jet-table__body-row elementor-repeater-item-4b5ad45\"><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-3100cc4 jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Rubbernose pleco (Chaetostoma sp.)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-60eb741 jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Big variety between species, avg. around <b>5 inches (12,7cm)<\/b><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr class=\"jet-table__body-row elementor-repeater-item-5f9d17d\"><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-dc2033c jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Vampire pleco, Galaxy pleco (Leporacanthicus galaxias)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-7315937 jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Up to <b>10 inches (25cm)<\/b><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr class=\"jet-table__body-row elementor-repeater-item-a11a3d2\"><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-9b928bf jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Royal pleco (Panaque nigrolineatus)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><td class=\"jet-table__cell elementor-repeater-item-f2723f9 jet-table__body-cell\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-inner\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-content\"><div class=\"jet-table__cell-text\">Up to <b>17 inches (43cm)<\/b><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody>\n\t\t\t<\/table>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b20ba6d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b20ba6d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.17.0 - 01-11-2023 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How to make plecos grow bigger and faster<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d48e532 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d48e532\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>One of the things that&#8217;s always fascinated me is the differences in sizes between the same pleco species.\u00a0<\/p><p>It can be a genetic thing (such as a result of incest), but often times it&#8217;s also a result of bad diet or poor living conditions.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e8eab9b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e8eab9b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Feeding your pleco a healthy diet<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1536e80 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1536e80\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Feeding your pleco highly nutritious foods, <strong>starting from a young age<\/strong> is crucial for making your pleco grow to its full potential.<\/p><p>Many people don&#8217;t know that there are three types of plecos:<\/p><ul><li><strong>Carnivorous plecos<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d0b71cf elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d0b71cf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.17.0 - 01-11-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"532\" src=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/8631047359_1e5fee386e_c.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-7437\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/8631047359_1e5fee386e_c.jpg 800w, https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/8631047359_1e5fee386e_c-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/8631047359_1e5fee386e_c-768x511.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">The mouth of a carnivorous pleco, Pseudacanthicus <a rel=\"noopener nofollow\"> Source<\/a><\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6a2bba5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6a2bba5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div><p style=\"font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;\">Certain plecos, like Hypancistrus and Pseudacanthicus species feed entirely on a meat-based diet.\u00a0<\/p><p style=\"font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;\">Things like chopped mussels and frozen foods are ideal, as well as certain Repashy foods. There are also some meat-based pellets available on the market.<\/p><p style=\"font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;\">Even though these species are fully carnivorous, you can occasionally feed them some algae wafers to balance out the diet.<\/p><p style=\"font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/p><\/div><ul style=\"font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;\"><li style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Herbivorous plecos<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d9575b6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d9575b6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/446159364_9b420b77a6_w.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-785\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/446159364_9b420b77a6_w.jpg 400w, https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/446159364_9b420b77a6_w-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">A Clown Pleco resting on a bed of algae. Photo by <a href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/FqFCQ\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kai Schreiber<\/a><\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a87bc4b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a87bc4b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div><p style=\"font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;\">In the wild, these plecos will eat mainly algae and organic materials such as wood. This is why you&#8217;ll need some pieces of driftwood in your tank. Especially for the real wood eaters, like Panaque and Panaqolus species (which includes the Flash &amp; Clown pleco).\u00a0<\/p><p style=\"font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;\">Read our full article on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/driftwood-for-plecos\/\">what plecos need wood and why<\/a><\/p><p style=\"font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;\">Feeding these plecos is fairly easy, as they will take many types of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/feeding-plecos-vegetables\/\">vegetables<\/a>\u00a0and pellets.\u00a0<\/p><p style=\"font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;\">Again, to balance out the diet you might occasionally feed some protein or meats.<\/p><p style=\"font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/p><\/div><ul><li><strong style=\"font-style: inherit;\">Omnivorous plecos<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-afc01f3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"afc01f3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"440\" src=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Bristlenose-pleco-zucchini.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-926\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Bristlenose-pleco-zucchini.jpeg 640w, https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Bristlenose-pleco-zucchini-300x206.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Ancistrus aguaboensis. Photo by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CXwbIUZopid\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">@simple_fins on Instagram\n<\/a><\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3ce609d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3ce609d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The bristlenose pleco is one of these, which might also declare the widespread succes of this pleco.\u00a0<\/p><p>Most omnivorous species do best on a diet that consists out of 70-80% plant-based foods, supplemented with protein.<\/p><p><strong>Related Read: <a href=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/what-do-plecos-eat\/\">What do plecos eat? The full guide<\/a> -&gt;<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ce19e0c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ce19e0c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Living conditions<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1d8896b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1d8896b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Water quality and tank size is of vital importance to make your plecos grow both faster and bigger.<\/p><p>A strong filter is highly recommended, along with weekly water changes.\u00a0<\/p><p>Make sure to regularly check water parameters, primarily for nitrites and nitrates, these can limit growth.<\/p><p>In terms of your tank size, a 30 gallon tank is the minimum for most plecos. Small plecos like the clown pleco can do well in a 20 gallon tank.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e72f25 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5e72f25\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Do plecos grow to the size of the tank?<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8e86696 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8e86696\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>To some extent, plecos grow up to the size of their tank. A tank that&#8217;s too small will not allow the pleco to full develop. However, plecos will grow out of a tank if it&#8217;s too small for them, and potentially cause damage or <a href=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/pleco-dying\">die<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Keeping pleco catfish in an aquarium can be a good idea, or a very bad idea.\u00a0 Mainly because some plecos can get enormous in your aquarium, which makes them a bad choice for most.\u00a0 And be aware, even though the pet store might say &#8216;pleco&#8217;, there are hundreds of different pleco species all growing up &hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/pleco-size-by-species\/\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Pleco Size: How Big Do Plecos get? (By Species)<\/span> Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6398,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"","site-content-layout":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Pleco Size: How Big Do Plecos get? 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