Burning Question about Plecos

[Edarion]

What is the difference between a " Common Pleco" and a " Sailfin Pleco"

Are they one and the same?

Pleco experts/godfathers please advise

[Jessia]

I'm definitely not an expert on plecos, but our work tank has both a common and a sailfin pleco. The sailfin is a lot more colourful (gold/black instead of grey/black) and has a bigger fin.

Of course there's probably more differences, but I'm sure someone else will chime in.

[2wheelsx2]

Common pleco - Pterygoplichthys pardalis

Sailfin pleco - Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps

[jobber604]

Common Pleco:


Sailfin Pleco:

[Edarion]

The picture about common plecois not working

[jobber604]

Go google and type in common plecos and click on the image link. Bam...tons of pics on common plecos.

[2wheelsx2]

The picture about common plecois not working

Did you click on my link? There is an entire page of pictures of each on planetcatfish.com

[Edarion]

Are Sailfin plecos worth more on the market?

[BelieveInBlue]

IMO, they're worth the same: absolutely nothing. They don't do much besides produce a ton of waste, and they get way too big for most tanks, and even some ponds. Problem is, they're cheap, usually around 3-4 dollars each, readily available, and people somehow have this belief that they'll eat a lot of algae; though they will graze algae, that's usually only when there's nothing else to eat and they're starving. Plus, I find that they start to graze less and less algae as they grow, and once they get over 6 inches, they almost stop. Algae eating or not, they still produce enough waste to match a fully stocked 75g. Add in the fact that they can potentially reach 2 feet, and you've got a fish that's about as suitible for the average aquarium as a shark. If you really want a pleco to eat algae, I suggest a rubberlip or bristlenose; they only get about 6 inches, and graze algae very diligently. Of course, it's still recommended that you feed them something, like zucchini or cucumber.

[Edarion]

I totally agree. I'm trying to get rid of mine.do you want him?