The fish are commonly sold when they are 2 - 3 in (5 - 8 cm) and while there is some variety among the species, the Common Pleco will grow to an adult size in excess of 8 - 12 in (20 - 30 cm), sometimes in less than a year. Mainly herbivorous, they can be fed dried algae pellets and wafers or be fed fresh green vegetables such as spinach, lettuce, and cucumbers. They will occasionally feed on dead fish or attach themselves to the sides of large bodied fish such as the goldfish.
