Common Pleco Is Too Big For 20 Gallon

What can I do for this poor thing he has almost out grown 20 gallon tank and no fs will take him. When I bought him they said he would get big at all. I'm a newbie so any help would be great.

 

how big is your pleco? Are going to try to keep him in a different tank, or are you just going to try to get rid of him to someone else?

 

Hi! Do you have any friends with big tanks?? Also.. if you keep posting once you hit 50 posts you can offer him to some one here on fish lore!! There are pretty many people with big tanks that might be able to help you out!!

 

how big is your pleco? Are going to try to keep him in a different tank, or are you just going to try to get rid of him to someone else?

He is around 12 inches long, I won't be able to get bigger tank. So I will have to give him up.

Hi! Do you have any friends with big tanks?? Also.. if you keep posting once you hit 50 posts you can offer him to some one here on fish lore!! There are pretty many people with big tanks that might be able to help you out!!

No I don't have any friends that have fish. They say to put him in a pond or something and I know he won't survive that. So I'm hoping to rehome this wonderful pleco

 

Maybe post on craigslist or facebook to see if anyone local can take him? Or see if there's a free tank around you somewhere

 

I second offering him in the buy-sell-free forum, once you hit fifty posts. Remember that although being in a too-small tank is bad in the long run, it’s not going to kill him instantly. You can take a few days and make a plan.
I do think it’s shameful that stores sell these fish without being clear about their adult size and their proper tank size. They’re such cool fish, too.

 

I would reccomend making a Craigslist post or joining buying/selling groups on Facebook in your area.

 

I second offering him in the buy-sell-free forum, once you hit fifty posts. Remember that although being in a too-small tank is bad in the long run, it’s not going to kill him instantly. You can take a few days and make a plan.
I do think it’s shameful that stores sell these fish without being clear about their adult size and their proper tank size. They’re such cool fish, too.

I've tried that already and no luck so far. Yeah they are beautiful and I hate to get rid of him but I have to do what's best.

 

Can you maybe find one of those plastic baby pools/sand box for cheap to put him in for now?

 

Can you maybe find one of those plastic baby pools/sand box for cheap to put him in for now?

I will have to see about that

 

Try listing him as a "monster" fish, it may get people with larger tanks interested

 

Try listing him as a "monster" fish, it may get people with larger tanks interested

Thanks I will try that.

 

I'm not sure how to ask a question as I have just joined. I have what I assume is a common pleco, which is now about a foot long. It is in a 20 gallon tank and I just purchased a 40. What do I have to do to the 40 gallon to transfer the fish? It is the biggest tank my apartment can handle.

 

Unfortunately a 40 gallon isn't large enough for a 12 inch fish, and he will just keep getting larger. I suggest you rehome him.

 

I have a 75 gallon and I had to give mine away too. He just got too big.

 

I'm not sure how to ask a question as I have just joined. I have what I assume is a common pleco, which is now about a foot long. It is in a 20 gallon tank and I just purchased a 40. What do I have to do to the 40 gallon to transfer the fish? It is the biggest tank my apartment can handle.

Unfortunately he's going to double in size, and a 40 gallon is less than 1/5 the tank size you need for him to live a happy life. Sorry, but if you keep him in there, he will develop spinal deformities.
Also, you post a question by going to the "aquarium forum" tab, clicking on "freshwater fish" and going through a few other threads that get more and more specific, and a "post new thread" button will appear.