Hate to ask this, but...

fairghum

I love my pleco, Karl Katfish. I've had him for nearly 9 years and he's about 8" long. He's been in a 46 gallon bowfront for awhile but I'm downsizing that tank (after much attrition) to a 20 gal long. Will Karl be ok in there? There are a couple of cories but that's it for the bottom.

Romad

It sounds to me like you already know the answer to that one. Sorry but a 20 gallon is way to small for Karl. And think of how fast he'll foul that tank up :/

The best thing you can do is rehome him.

fairghum

I am so attached to that fish that I may just decide to give up the 20 and go back to the 46 (with a Siamese Algae Eater). Am I crazy or what? I've had him for 10 years and just hate to turn him over to someone else.

AndrewM21

Completely understandable, a fish that old and one that has been with you that long will certainly grow on you and you will obviously not want to get rid of him. If you want to keep him then you will certainly need to provide him with adequate housing, otherwise it's just cruel to keep him instead of rehoming him to someone with proper housing.

fairghum

He seems to be perfectly happy with lots of room in the 46 gal bowfront. I haven't noticed much of a market for plecos. I live in a non-metro area, so it could be difficult to find Karl a home (even if I decided to let him go).

fairghum

I do have another alternative. I have a 40 gal breeder tank setup with 7 kribs, 4 rosy barbs, a bristlenose cat, 2 otos, and a stunning Clown Loach. I could put Karl Katfish in there, as it's about the same room as he has enjoyed in the 46 gal tank. Anyone see any problems with that idea?

djembekah

it seems too small still :/

fairghum

Sadly, I have concluded the same thing. Not only is my LFS buying my 46 gal tank, they have agreed to also take Karl and put him in their large display tank.

I feel like I'm sending my kid off to college...

djembekah

i'm sorry :( that's hard

Thoth

That stinks . Sorry to hear you gave him away. I have been considering the same with some of my fish. I have an ~7" synodontis that has out grown his tank. Just like your Pleco, he should have been kept in minimum of a 4' long tank. I have mine in 3' 30gallon. He can swim from one side of the tank to the other in less than a second. He was a hybrid and was hoping he would stay in the 5" range.

Im going to my local local aquarium society later this week to see if someone wants some of my fish. The local group has a breeding contest this year where participants gain points for each species breed. Nothing beats obtaining a group of pepper Cories already primed for some easy points.