Pure, P.C., other pleco people.... name this pleco

[VirgoWolf]

OK, I just got a good deal on a 6-7gal tank and it came with (I shook my head as I usually do when I save some fish) a goldfish, 7-10 random small snails, and a pleco. Goldfish went into the new pond we just put in at my mom's and for now the pleco is still in the little tank (he's still just a lil guy, I figured quarentine in there wasn't going to hurt him as long as he's alone). I am wondering what kind he is, he appears to be one of the rather common types, but not like the commons that they sell around here. Here's a pic, notice the light banding. He's about 2" and he likes his algae tablets and I saw him munching on a (dead?) snail, not sure if he took the shrimp pellets or if the snails got them and I don't have any driftwood as of now, so I don't know if he likes that. If I could get his L# That would be awesome. I am considering keeping him, so I have to know what I got into LOL, Thanks.

 

[Pure]

He is a common. Can you get a closer pic?

 

[VirgoWolf]

I'll try, the Camera kinda gets more blurry as you get closer.

 

[FishGeek]

I agree. Looks like a Common. I like the ones were there spots are visible. Hes a pretty common.

 

[VirgoWolf]

That's what threw me off, I've never seen a common that's so light and had bands like that. He's so pretty.

He's been hiding on me, I'll work on that pic for you though.

 

[PlecoCollector]

Definitly a common and a cute one at that Feed him some zucchini and he'll be your friend forever.

 

[VirgoWolf]

Sorry, I tried to get a closeup, but this camera is crap for closeups, this is the best I could get.

And then there is this one, which is too cute, LOL.

 

[PlecoCollector]

Aw, what a cutie!
Good luck with him, he definitly looks like a common to me =D And he's still young, so he may actually eat algae A hard concept for many Plecos to grasp as they get big and lazy

 

[Pure]

Virgo. Try taking a clear far away shot and use a digital editing program to zoom in on it. You can email me if you have no such a program and I will see what i can do.

That is how I get ALL of my close up shots.
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d183/pureplecs/Misc/sculpin1.jpg

 

[VirgoWolf]

LOL all I have is Paint to edit in, and dialup for now, so it's a HUGE pain, I did get some nice clear shots though, maybe I'll try 1-2 more and see if I can't get something on here that you can see well.

OK, This one's not bad. Makes him look darker than he is though.

 

[mollybreeder]

its a really stupid question but when you say common pleco are you reffering to the bristlenose

 

[FreshwaterJeff]

Molly, no - a common pleco is not a bristlenose.

 

[PlecoCollector]

its a really stupid question but when you say common pleco are you reffering to the bristlenose

Hey, there's no such thing as a stupid question *thumbsups

There are Common Plecos, which are the ones pet stores usually sell and then there are Common Bristlenose Plecos, which are the most readily available Ancistrus breed.

Common Pleco:
http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=88

Common Bristlenose Pleco:
http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=49

 

[Pure]

There are actually 2 types of commons sold, and I believe this one in question is one of the other ones.
Hypostomus punctatus
http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=87
Tis why I wanted a closer look/

 

[VirgoWolf]

He looks alot like both of them, I wish there were better shots of the tails, his tail is pretty destinctive, I don't know the difference between the 2 though, is there any noticeable differances?

 

[straitjacket]

H. punctatus and H. plecostomus have spots on the body. Uniformly circular. They are "old school" common plecs and not really all that common now-a-days.
Today, the common common pleco is Liposarcus pardalis. L. pardalis is of a reticulated pattern. The shapes vary greatly and may not be very uniform.
Your fish is L. pardalis.

 

[Pure]

H. punctatus and H. plecostomus have spots on the body. Uniformly circular.

describes the spots on her pic to a T. The body shape is completly wrong to be pardalis. Indeed punctatus is not so common anymore but I have been seeing more and more of these come in. I have one now that was sent as an extra...an extra I want to get rid of lol.

 

[VirgoWolf]

LOL Pure, I love this little guy, how big is yours? This guy HATES the light, there is no tubes or anything in his tank (he's only in it for 2 more weeks, then he gets the upgrade with lots of extras) so when I turn on the light he darts to under his big leaf and there he stays throughout most of the day, unless he gets hungry. I've been trying to get a good pic of him, but he is refusing. I even have the camera right on hand and him right next to me so I don't have to move and startle him, but it seems he knows what the camera is and every time it leavs the computer desk he hits the bottom of that leaf LOL.

His spots are definitly more like the H. punctatus, but some of the pictures I've seen make them look a little more odd than he does. He doesn't look like 90% of the pics I have seen of the L. pardalis, but there is a couple that make me wonder. This one in particular looks a LOT like him. But then again, This one looks alot like him too, just a little washed out, but that is his spots to a T. Can they interbreed? He looks like a hybrid of the 2. LOL

 

[Pure]

My guy is about 3 inches and wow do they grow fast!! I've only had him a little over a month. He was just a tad bit over an inch when we got him. At that rate he may end up living out his days as a native Florida pleco.

Not sure if they can cross..

 

[VirgoWolf]

LOL well if you get real tired of him, ship him this way, I'll take him in! They're adorible! LOL And I need an excuse to buy bigger tanks! LOL