Bad Wolf

Question on size and price

aquarist48

Good morning. If you'll look at the top of this page you'll see a SEARCH. Type in Pleco and that will give you some good information. As far as price...depends on your location and the size of the fish.

Nick G

My common plec cost $20.00 and was about 4 inches long. My bristlenose plec cost $20.00 and was about 2 inches, and I also bought 5 1 inch bristlenose for $20.00. I also have a GBA who cost me $8.00, he's about 1 inch long.

Bad Wolf

bristles noses here are $4.95 and $9.95 for an albino, about 1 inch. at another place common BN's are $9.95 and ablino's are $18.95.

i've seen common pleco at 3 inches for $49.95 and a 13 incher for $200 and a golden one was $260, 12 icnhes.

WHY ARE THEY SO EXPENSIVE HERE!!!!

Nick G

Why do you want a Pleco anyway? Your tank is already way overstocked

Bad Wolf

oh, i want it for my new tank, not until a year though. it's gonna be 6 foot. but i want one coz they looks so cool and i reckon they are like, the best fish.

also, would a pleco be able to live in a pond from November to March, (Late spring to early Autumn, AUS)

Amanda

My clown cost me $7.99, and my common was $3. So inexpensive. The BN's cosy around $10.

CHoffman

My L-144's cost me around $20.00 each. they were 1 inch long

Bad Wolf

Amanda, you are so lucky, $3 for a common pleco, that's so cheap.

namehater

i would give you my 5" common for free, come get him lol.

Bad Wolf

you're just teasing me aren't you

MissMTS

Hi Bad Wolf

I did some research because I was curious and found out that common plecos are illegal to import to Australia. This would explain the high cost because there is a high demand for this fish and little supply, since LFS are relying only on local breeders

Here are a few links you may find interesting:
http://www.plecofanatics.com/forum/a...hp?t-5568.html
http://www.fishforum.com/freshwater-...uk-2340/page5/

Bad Wolf

why are they illegal? did it say?

Nick G

I was wondering if that was the case myself. Common plecs are pretty cheap here in NZ especially compared to a lot of other fish. However plecs released into rivers and lakes would never survive the temperatures we get in Winter over here, so I doubt whether they would be much of a threat to the eco system. However plecs would easily survive in the Australian climate in the wild and most probably be pretty damaging to the eco system there. This is most likely why it's illegal to import them in Aus.

Butterfly

If I'm not mistaken the importation of Plecos is illegal in Australia making only plecos bred there legal. This is why their so expensive. There was a big uproar at www.plecofanatics.com the end of last year when updating of their grey list was going on. Several fish were added to the do not import part of the list.
Carol
Sorry MissMTS didn't see that you had addressed this already

11yancazosj

mine was about an inch (or smaller) and is cost me AUD$17.50

Bad Wolf

your'e so lucky 11yancazosj. one in VIC here about the same size would cost me $30, and that's on special, they are $49.95! FOR A 4CM LITTLE THING!!!! WHY CAN'T THEY BE CHEAPER!!!

11yancazosj

i guess that different sotre price them for sifferent reasons...

Bad Wolf

hmm.

11yancazosj

what are you hmmm ing about

Bad Wolf

i hmming about prices, they are so EXPENSIVE!!! AHH!!!!

Nick G

Your BN Pleco will reach 6 inches given time. Why not just stick with him?

Bad Wolf

i don't know why i want a common pleco. i just think they're amazing and i'm thinking of restocking and getting another tank. i want to start getting slightly larger fish.

Nick G

A Common Plec will get more than 'slightly' larger! They can reach 18 inches to 2 feet! Have you tried looking at other petstores?

Bad Wolf

i've tried 3 pet stores so far. two of them sell them at about 2 inches for $50, i've said that before, just a quick refresh, and another store that has had a pleco that was a bout a foot for $200 or a golden one, 1 ft, $260. i am going to this one on Sat to see their smaller ones, hopefully they are at a reasonable price.

Bad Wolf

i also forgot to mention that my BN is only 4.5 cm and not growing, any suggestions why?

Nick G

Man thats expensive! Fish prices are bad here in New Zealand, I've paid $50-$100 for fish on a few occassions, but I'd never pay that much for a common Plec. Theres one for sale in one of the local petsores which is about 14inches long for $15!

Nick G

How long have you had it?

Bad Wolf

OMG!!! SP CHEAP, 14 INCHES FOR $15!!!

i've had the BN for a little bit over 5-7 weeks.

Nick G

They take a while to grow noticeably. I'm sure he is growing, but you might not notice the difference for a while.