PLECO

Plecostomus is the common name given to the Loricariidae family of armored suckermouth catfish that come from Central and South America. The common pleco (Hypostomus plecostomus) is often sold in pet stores as a cheap cleaner fish. However, this 3-inch baby eventually grows up to be a nearly 2-foot beast with a surprisingly large appetite (and matching waste load). We strongly advise against getting monster fish unless you are prepared to keep them for their entire lives because they are nearly impossible to rehome. Also, do not release your common pleco into the wild because they are a highly invasive species and can do a lot of damage to the environment.

Thankfully, there are much smaller plecos that are better suited for the average home aquarium. Bristlenose, rubber lip, and clown plecos are all beautiful catfish that stay between 4 to 6 inches in length. They may cost a little more than the common pleco, but their manageable size and smaller food bill will more than make up for it in the long run.