Hello there;

I'm just after a quick bit of reassurance, I bought this pleco today believing him to be a snowball plec...however, I have my doubts;
The reason being that I had believed the snowball plec to have a black body with white(neat) spots...whereas this plec appears more brown/dull in certain regions. I have linked to a couple of pictures, sorry they are not the best quality - I can try and get better ones if needbe.

The fish is currently in my quarantine tank, after I'm satisfied he'll be going into my main Discus tank. I know the gravel in the quarantine tank isn't the best for catfish in general, but the main tank is better/smoother.

There appears to be some fin damage/signs of a general scrap with another fish - I have added some Melafix to help in the recovery. Maybe the fish is just stressed at the moment and is settling in...

Thanks
Craig.

Heres a pic of my snowball.





Cheers Gorodn

it looks like a snowball to me, but im no expert - clearer pictures would help

Thanks for the replies guys;

Binksy, that is a lovely snowball

I have another pic - I was a bit disappointed, as I love the look of snowballs, I still feel it isn't a snowball - I could be wrong though.... what do you guys think from this picture?



This post has been edited by Craig100: Jun 5 2008, 09:29 PM

thats no snowball , well it doesnt look like one in the slightest

yeah - I paid £35 for him today - I've done a post on planet catfish too, to see if I can get an ID on him...

It didn't live up to my expectations, every picture I have seen on the net has been a much nicer specimen.

I've got another picture since then...



That one doesn't look so bad, but in real life...it has lighter patches etc, it just doesn't even compare Binksy's or to something like this:

http://www.exoticfinds.net/images/lad33-snowball-pleco.gif

Its a L201 hypancistrus contradens
requires a more meaty diet the LDA33 snowball

give him plenty of hiding places and his natural colour will appear
hes mighty stressed in the pics and the colour of the gravel does'nt help either

Thanks guys, that has helped a lot.
I done a post on planet catfish about him too, and the argument was between the L201(as windy said) and the L102, the consensus was that it is the 102, and judging by more pictures I have seen, I would agree.

That would explain why he hasn't really touched the cucumber, being a hypancistrus(Inspector). When I leave the room he is coming out more, and eating some bloodworm....he also seems to be colouring up more.

So it appears I did get a true snowball

Craig

yes your right it is a 102
the difference is 102 has a black seam on the edge of the dorsal and tail fin and the 201 has'nt
i did'nt notice it thats why i said 201

i was told this was an L102 but it looks nothing like that one above? nice eyes tho

http://img501.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf0013oq4.jpg

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Hope these links are rite duno which one to pic argh

yours is a L102 as well notice the black edgeing to the tail fin