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Recently, it came to my attention that my 3 year old H Plec "big brutha" was getting a bit big for my 55 gal, and was thinking of moving it. Last night, the plec gorged itself on my first angel spawn of the season (the eggs, not the fry), and that was the last straw. He has to go, although I'm quite attached to him, so I'll be giving it to a reliable aquarist, namely, my best friend. So I'm wondering if a large 8 inch plec could survive in an outdoor pond with a few comets. Here in California, it doesn't get much hotter than 85 and much cooler than 56.

He will die. Being from South America water temps below 70 degrees will kill him. I know someone with 2 ponds in FL who moves hers in every winter because water temps just do not stay warm enough for them.

Sorry to bear the bad news,

Koi

Empty chairs at empty tables, the room silent, forlorn.

Well I placed my Plec in last summer and one yr later, it is already about 10" long....It survived our Winter here and will stay outside for the next winter season. I honestly didnt even see the Plec in my 900 gal pond outside until about a month ago....It was so tiny when I purchased it, now its the Biggest fish I have.....Now I am also in Texas, and We dont have months of Winter at a time, and being in California shouldnt be much different.
Now I could have gotten lucky during our 1st Winter and I will see this coming Winter, but from Experience with mine outside, its still here through Winter #1 as a baby.....Again in a yr, its easily 10"......

In texas ponds can also have cichlids it is VERY different in terms of water temp. California ponds are at least 10 degrees less than yours in winter. A huge difference for a tropical fish.

Koi

Empty chairs at empty tables, the room silent, forlorn.

Is 56 to 85 degrease your air or water temp? Koi Keeper is right about temps below 70 killing the pleco. I keep a couple of plecos in my pond during the summer, but when the temp starts to drop, the plecos come inside. They do a good job on algea, but as long as there are hiding places in the pond, you'll never see them. I only see mine when I'm doing maintenance and disturb one of their resting spots.