my pleco is too big for my tank...

I am not sure what to do so I thought this would be the place to go... I bought a Pleco 2 years ago from a lfs and the salesman told me he would be fine for my 5 gallon tank, which at the time only had a Betta.... Well, now we have a 10gal and the pleco has grown to 7"!!! I am so sad that he is so large for this tank and dont want to bring him back to same lfs... We dont have the space in our home to get a bigger tank now. any suggestions? I don't want to give him up but its cruel to let him keep growing in a small tank.../9

hmm the only thing i could think of is either sell him or get a bigger tank.....
or give him to a buddy with a bigger tank so u can still c em often......
sorry bout the situation!!! it sux having to let go of fish u grow attatched to!!!!!:(

were u located? maybe i can get u a tank?

I know, I really am attached to him... I am wondering if I can keep him a bit longer and then hopefully can this summer get a bigger tank? I would just hate to hand him over to a strange tank :( I just don't want it to be a bad situation for him now, not sure when the tank would be a torture tank for him...

IT SOUNDS LIKE YOUR IN A LIVE ROCK AND TIGHT SHELL. AMIGO THINK ABOUT GOING TO THE NEXT LEVEL, 20 GAL TANK, THEY ARE NOT MUCH BIGGER AND U WOULD BE ABLE TO GET MORE AWESOME FISH

I moved your post to the proper location.

If you don't want to get rid of him but cant get a bigger tank now but can in the future I suggest getting one of those big Rubbermaid bins, that will hold him for a few months. Could you post a picture of him so that we can ID him for you and then you will know what his max size will be?
If he is a common pleco he could reach 2 feet long easily....... If he is a common he would have a much happier and healthier life in an outdoor pond, depending on where you live.

it sucks when you can no longer keep a fish, but you would prolly be better off getting rid of him if you cant keep it in a tank that is large enough

Not to be mean, but common plecos fully grown will be approximately 2 feet long. Buying a bigger tank is great, but if you have to keep upgrading from a 5 to a 10 to 20 to 50...then you might want to think long term for the fish and not be selfish. Common plecos need lots of space with a tank that can accommodate their size. 75 or greater would be ideal...so unless you want to end up with a 75-100 Gallon tank...give him away now; or you'll just keep growing more and more attached to a fish you can't handle fully grown. I know lots of people that buy these pleco's and don't know what to do with them when they reach a foot long. I usually end up adopting them and trading a small Bristlenose Pleco for them. The plecos go into a 3000 Gallon pond I have in the backyard during the warmer months. In the cold months, they get relocated into a 60 gallon fish tank....soon to be a 100 Gallon stock tank inside the garage.

Hong your tha man. Its True about common Pleco's getting huge and they really need the Space to swim. Ponds when they get big are best. If you like Plecos you should get a couple of LFBN or ALFBN, They are pretty cool and don't get huge like the common do.

I would contact a local fish store and ask them if they know anyone that has the space for it that is a good owner. We have had to do that.

I've got a common now just over 17". Still really a baby. They do get pretty large to say the least

Thanks for all the suggestions and responses. I would love to get an outdoor pond going but that will not happen til we move to a larger home. Out of the 2 local fish stores here in Santa Clarita, I only deal with one and they don't adopt fish because their store is very very small and they just don't have the room for more. They have also had many babies born in the past month. I will check with the husband if maybe he knows a pond owner who wants to adopt my guy. That is one option. The other fish store, the place that sold me 2 common plecos 2 years ago when I told them I have a SMALL 5 gallon with a Betta and wanted a small bottom feeder to accompany him... well, they are just difficult to deal with and have a rude attitude... I went to them when I had an ich problem last year before I found the little family owned shop I now deal with. So even though the fish store I bought my plecos from will reluctantly take him, I would rather not put my fish back in their hands when they are not even smart enough to tell a woman with a 5 gallon tank the right bottom feeder.... Its such common knowledge among everyone who deals in fish (I was only aware of Bettas at the time).
So I guess I will have to hope for a pond owner or huge tank owner who will want my guy. :(

I posted on CL... :(
Hoping for a happy outcome for my guy, will keep you all posted.

Thats sad...I hope it goes well!

i hope you find a new home for him soon.

bellamama wrote:

I posted on CL... :(
Hoping for a happy outcome for my guy, will keep you all posted.

Thank you, good luck with finding him what he needs!

My LFS, the family owner, good one... said if I bring them a pic of my pleco they will show to their clients with big tanks, or ponds to see if they will adopt him!
My fingers are crossed for a great big fabulous pond!!

That would be great! He would love it and you would be happy with where he is going. Good luck, I would much rather go that route then cl...

my girlfriend told me that alot of horse stables use common plecos in there horse trophs to keep them clean, dunno if you would want to do that but its another option

***UPDATE***

I got a bigger tank (30 gallons) so I can keep my Pleco!!! Eventually I will get a pond. For now, he has lots of room in the new tank and he is doing great!

NICE!!!! Glad to hear that ur keeping him!!!
keep us posted on that pond!!!

It won't take him long to outgrow the 30 gallon. He will also be very destructive once he gets any bigger. I would keep the ads up and see if you get any answers.