Stunted Albino Bn Pleco

I own a 55 gallon aquarium with several African Cichlids none over 3 inches, a normal 5 inch pleco, and a 1 1/2 inch longfin albino Bristle nose pleco. I can't seem to figure out why he hasn't grown! He was the same size as the rest of the fish in the tank when I got him, but he hasn't grown in the 2 months of ms having him. He hides quite often and is not as exciting as I hoped he would be. Would it be a good idea to relocate home to my extra 5 gallon where there is no threat of larger fish bullying or eating him until he reaches 2 or 3 inches. I'd have to grab an extra heater, but if it would save him I would do it.
Here is a low resolution picture of one of the few times he has gonnoutbto explore the tank

 

A 5 gallon is to small for a plco.

 

It's a temporary fix

You could surely have a 1 1/2 inch Pleco in a 5 g tank

He would be the only fish

 

1 1/2" is pretty small. Your idea may work. Bulk him up while he has no competition for food and no other fish picking at him. My BNs are pretty sassy so this was strange to me but it is probably because he is so small.

 

Ok

 

Oh, do you have colla wood in there for him? Even if he is alone, he will need a sense of protection and BNs do need wood for their digestion.

 

Not specifically colla wood but I have drift wood in it

 

Not specifically colla wood but I have drift wood in it

That's good

 

Alright thanks

 

Do not put him in a 5 Gallon, he will not grow.
His organs, however, will continue growing until the point that he has health issues and may even die.

You can try feeding him cucumber slices and zucchinI slices. But put them right near him so he can get to them first.

What are you feeding your fish?

High protein diets and variety are what ensure that your fish will grow

 

Albino plecos, from what I've read, remain relatively small, for the most part, so she could be doing just fine. DoubleDutch and Mcasella will know more than I.

Do not put him in a 5 Gallon, he will not grow.
His organs, however, will continue growing until the point that he has health issues and may even die.

You can try feeding him cucumber slices and zucchinI slices. But put them right near him so he can get to them first.

What are you feeding your fish?

High protein diets and variety are what ensure that your fish will grow

A lot of people use grow out tanks.

 

He will continue to grow if you keep up on water changes, I had a few very small bristlenose, I removed over half of them to try and ease the space some and I have three that are three inches and sexing out (red marbles, I also have a group of brown bns that did marvelous after selling half the tank, the competition was high so not everyone was getting enough to grow).
He looks a little skinny, the other fish (specially the common pleco) are taking all the food he needs to grow.

Fresh veggies and high protein foods 5-6 days a week, with 1-2 fast days, twice weekly water changes (you can do more than this with smaller percentages of water changed), 50% would be good. They can handle extreme abuse but we as their owners must care for them.

 

Personally, I would rehome the other pleco. A 55 gallon will eventually be too small for it anyway. Plus, it'll remove a lot of competition for your little albino.

 

Is it provided with some protein as well
, as they are omnivores and need some protein in their diet.

Don't know what African Cichlids they are but won't they be an issue even if the BN would grow ?

I wouldn't put a probably already stunted fish in a 5 G !

 

I put some spinach/ lettuce in the aquarium about once a week so I will start doing it more like 4 or 5 times a week

 

I put some spinach/ lettuce in the aquarium about once a week so I will start doing it more like 4 or 5 times a week

try some bloodworm and carnivorious/ corypellets

 

Lettuce is 80% water, I would switch to another veggie to give your pleco better food (butternut squash, zucchini, even peppers if the pleco will take it). Mine will pick up shrimp pellets, suck up bloodworms and brine shrimp (frozen), and steal flake food. This is natural for them, they need to protein to grow better.

 

Ok is cucumber good?

I also drop in like 3 or 4 algae pellets for them

There may be another solution, my neighbor has a 37 g with 2 commit gold fish 2 KhulI loaches and 12 danios. The ph is most likely lower and I'm sure the temp is too. His other tank is a 20 gallon which will be soon or already is stocked with 8-12 harlequin rasboras 4-6 corydoras catfish and possibly 2-4 black skirt tetra or other tetra. It will probably be a little warmer thank the 37 like 76 to 77 degrees, but the ph will still be lower. This pleco is currently in around 7.8 to 8.0 ph with around 80 to 82 degrees water. I understand that these are quite hardy fish. Any feedback appreciated

 

I think it would be best for you to grow him out, they are nice fish and with more protein will be good.
I would not put bns with goldies, they like it a little warmer than most goldfish do. Cucumber is okay, it is a little more water based so squash is better, if you can get a hold of it.

 

So the 20 g without goldfish