I want to get a rubberlip pleco and want to know a couple of things:
How big do they grow?
What do they eat?
Do they need special care?
Will they eat that brown algae on the bubble wand and fake plants?
Anything else I need to know, or can I just plop them in? Thanx in advance!

Oh, and do they survive in the same water quality goldfish do?

Rubbernoses are compatiable with goldfish.

Any time you buy a new fish you always want to float him also ask the fish store what the Ph is so that you can float longer and add some water from your tank to his bag slowly for 10 mins before you add him to the tank plecos of this kind can die very easily from ph shock.

As for the living conditions they like hiding spots like plants and such.

Food they will eat what ever the goldfish eat and will eat brown algae and some green but not the hard green algae.

They get up to 4-5" long and will hide out most of the day and come out at night

Thanks koko! I didn't mean literally plop him in, I know the acclimation process, but can I just take him home and put him in the tank or do I have to make special preparations? Also, do I have to feed him extra? I assume not if he eats whatever the goldfish eat. Should I give him any supplements like fruit?

Whats the difference between common pleco and rubbernose pleco... even though the Rubbernose pleco and Gf are compatible...will they pick on each other or live in a complete different world of their own?...

A Common Pleco grows to a much larger size than a Rubberlip.Common's are able to reach sizes of 12 inches or Bigger,and have been reported to actually attach theirselves to Goldfish & suck their Slimecoat off. Rubberlips actually grow to around 4-6 inches big,and will live peacefully amongst your goldfish.

Wow! I didn't know common plecos grew THAT big!

Any more advice? Anyone?

Koko gave you some good tips.The only other thing that I could mention,is that they really enjoy some greens added to their diet. My Pleco's will eat cukecumber's/zucchinnii/squash/spinach/peas,etc. Some people say that you need to have a piece of Driftwood in your tank for Pleco's,because some types need that in their diet.Truthfully,I'm not sure about the Rubberlip in particular. I do have Driftwood in all my Pleco's tanks,but know that Driftwood will definately alter your PH,and bring it down some.Some people agree with having wood-some don't.

Their diet? Do they eat it? I have some fake driftwood because out petstore doesn't sell real driftwood. Is that okay, or do I have to get some?

there was a pleco at LFS around 2 1/2 feet long his head was about the size of my 2 fists put together

Woah! What KIND of pleco!?

rubberlips are comedians. when attached to the glass they will move their "lips" to scrape algae of the side, it almost looks as if they are talking......oh and you asked the differences; rubberlips have a distictive spotting on their heads, and they have a distinguished nose thats more pronounced than a few other plecos.

oh and beware, they are very territorial with others of their species hence the name"bulldog plec"

Oh, that should be fine. I only want to get one.