how much should my pleco be eating

vinnie-gecko

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UK
ive had 'Skargo' just over 3 years now (was one of my first fish i bought) he was only 2" when i bought him but he has grown alot since then and is now 12" and very chunky. just wondering whats an ideal amount for him to be eating. i usually chuck in some algae wafers and he also eats any cichlid pellets that my cichlids dont eat
 

Dimidiata

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palmetto FL
Good GOD. Thats a common pleco alright. At that size they normally get chucked into a pond or 300gal tank. What size tank is that anyways?

Id think he needs a better diet no offence, plecos, despite common belief are NOT herbivorous algae eaters. Especially not his kind. Hes a meat eater :p. More cichlid pellets, more catfish pellets, shrimp pellets, blood worms, the works. Anything less then a 75-100gal tank is too small for him, which would be why hes only 12" and chunky. Because my friend, you are looking at a fish that will easily obtain 2ft. EASY.

Heres some pics of wild caught
125.jpg
127.jpg
134.jpg

Yours would be about the size of the middle one, just to give you an idea. And these were by no means largest.

Before anyone gets their panties in a knot, this is a related species. Not the EXACT same, but their here for the size comparison.
 
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Dimidiata

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palmetto FL
I take back the ID, he is not a true common, brb with an ID. Kate is right, he needs some meat. BeefHeart though, thatd be a great thing.

*facepalm* He is a gibbiceps a Leopard Sailfin pleco my pics are of orinoco sailfin.
 
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Dimidiata

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palmetto FL
See, thats too small for these guys. They get ..well you already see how big they get :p. If he doesnt have the space to grow it will stunt him, which a long and painful process with fish that generally ends in organ failure.
 

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