Time to move my pleco on

I have a common pleco I bought years ago who just keeps growing. He's in my biggest tank ( a 120G ) but is starting to get too large, he's now about 18 inches. I know a man with a 350G who's looking for a large pleco so I have decided to move him on. I will be sad to see him go but I know he needs a bigger home. I will need to buy a new pleco to replace him but I will go for something that doesn't grow so big so it's time to start looking at the options for my new plec.

 

Just keep thinking how happy he will be in the bigger tank. There are so many smaller plecos to choose from. Have fun picking one out!

 

Thanks. Believe it or not when I got him I was sold him as suitable for a 20G, shows why you shouldn't believe what the shops tell you. I plan find something more unusual to replace him. Although it's sad to loose him I'm excited at the idea of picking his replacement.

 

Just about every LFS sells common plecos as a fish suitable for community tanks. There are very few people who are prepared to care for one of adult size.

 

My common pleco will be being collected in the next few days. I have found a source locally for a gold nugget plec ( L081 I think ) they should only get to 10 inches so should be suitable for my tank for life. I will pick him up once my common has gone.

 

It’s for the best. It’s always sad when we aren’t able to keep fish anymore. How do you plan on transporting that beast?

 

My local shop sells 24 inch koi in large plastic bags so I will get a bag from them. It's not going to be in the bag long the new owner is only a 10 min drive away.

 

My local shop sells 24 inch koi in large plastic bags so I will get a bag from them. It's not going to be in the bag long the new owner is only a 10 min drive away.

Might want to have a backup tub because of their spikes

 

I will suggest to the man who's collecting him that he brings a suitable container to put the bag in

 

When I had to rehome Jethro my common pleco and when I take my pleco fry to the fish store I just put them in an appropriate size plastic container. I am sure your big guy would poke holes in a plastic bag almost immediately.

I know how sad it is to let this big guy go but good on you for thinking first about his well being.

 

I have a common pleco I bought years ago who just keeps growing. He's in my biggest tank ( a 120G ) but is starting to get too large, he's now about 18 inches. I know a man with a 350G who's looking for a large pleco so I have decided to move him on. I will be sad to see him go but I know he needs a bigger home. I will need to buy a new pleco to replace him but I will go for something that doesn't grow so big so it's time to start looking at the options for my new plec.

U r great. Not everybody think for the benefit of their fish so much. It's actually sad to see even this beast getting sold as most of the aquarium owners can't keep it in its available required tank. Reminds me when I was just a beginner in this hobby, I bought one. I knew nothing much about fish keeping that time and bought it without doing any prior research for which I have regretted later. After 6 months it was almost 8-9 inches. My biggest tank is only 28g. Finally I had to release him in a cemented big enclosure that has plenty of fishes in them. It's outside a residential complex **** mall. People just sit around it and spend free time. Sometimes some people feed them. I have never seen anyone catching any fish from it though it is full of only talapia fish. Maybe they catch some fish once it gets overpopulated.

I have seen many people buying them from fosh stores who had been buting them for 20g-30g tanks. Some even buy them for 10g tanks. I often advised them not to buy them for such a small tank but they never listen. The seller will also tell it is okay for their tank. This saddens me seeing how they are abused. If a person is buying the fish for hobby, why not he/she even considering the welfare of the fish? I did not know, noone advised me but these people will not listen wven if someone advise them or many buy them even knowing how much big they can grow just because they want it now and later it can be abused in every way.

 

I have plenty of buckets I could use but It's best to use a bag as well, a bag has soft sides so when they are thrown around in the car the fish isn't banged against the hard sides. I was told always bag fish for transit.
The roads around here are bumpy with a lot of tight corners so even if you drive carefully the fish will get tossed around. I will make sure that there is enough water that if the bags puncture there will be a full bucket.
These fish transit bags are tougher than you think, I have had spiney fish delivered by mail order in small plastic fish bags and never had a leak.

 

I would say pick up a plastic tote at Lowe's or Home Depot, there cheap and come with a cover.
Golden Nuggets are my favorite

 

I would say pick up a plastic tote at Lowe's or Home Depot, there cheap and come with a cover.
Golden Nuggets are my favorite
I can try to find one tomorrow but the virus situation is mad here in the UK at the moment and we have been advised not to go into the big towns or cities unless absolutely essential. My local fish store is luckily close and out of town but the only place open that might have a plastic box around here is the supermarket.

 

My bad, I should have seen that you are from the UK. I heard whats going on there, stay safe and your right, stay home

 

I agree with Dennis57 Stay home and stay as safe as possible. Maybe you can pass this conversation on to the folks coming to get the big guy and if they have some kind of container they could bring it with them to transport him.

 

Update. The plec was collected today in a bag in a bucket. The man called to let me know it got to it's new home fine and is settling in nicely. The golden Nugget is still at the shop, they won't release it until it has finished their quarantining process. I'm due to pick it up next Wednesday as long as the shop is still allowed to sell it. ( We are expecting an announcement on boxing day ( 26th December) as to the new lockdown rules, last time round they banned the sale of livestock and only allowed fish shops to sell food and essentials ). I am staying at home as much as I can , at least we've still got a supermarket that delivers and Amazon.

 

I have a common pleco I bought years ago who just keeps growing. He's in my biggest tank ( a 120G ) but is starting to get too large, he's now about 18 inches. I know a man with a 350G who's looking for a large pleco so I have decided to move him on. I will be sad to see him go but I know he needs a bigger home. I will need to buy a new pleco to replace him but I will go for something that doesn't grow so big so it's time to start looking at the options for my new plec.

I had a pleco reach about 8 inches in my 15g tank. I could not find anyone who would take it. I went to the store that I normally buy my fish and they were willing to take it. No compensation at all but at least it went to a good home. No doubt they got a pretty penny for it.