Can You Id My Pleco's Please?

[scooterchick]

Pleco no.1. He's about 5/6 inches, sorry not a good pic, he's very shy. Also does anyone know what those pale patches are on his skin? He's had them for weeks now, I took the same pic to the LFS and the only thing he could come up with was perhaps he'd burned himself on the heater. Also does he look a bit underweight? What size is he likely to grow to? Although he's quite old and had a few owners, i'm determined to be the last? Tank is 4', 37 gals.

This plec is in a different tank, spends most of him time inside that boot, it's rare to get him out for a photo opportunity! He's too big for th tank, I reckon he's about 10" in a 4" tank. I'm rehoming him if anyone's interested, in the Glasgow area.

thank you!

 

[Genie]

im not entrely sure about the pale patches. but my big pleco has them too. he has done for so long but my dad (an ex tropical fish obsessee) reassured me he'd be fine. and sure enough hes still acting normally after all this time. If anyone could shed any light id be grateful too

 

[smithrc]

Pleco number one looks like it could be a Gibby (sail fin) or a common - Better piccy needed

plec 2 is an L001

 

[xingumike]

look like a gibby, he will get to approx 18-24 inches, the light patches are stress colouration and if you want to keep him you will need a bigger tank imo.

more pictures will help confirm that though

 

[scooterchick]

Many thanks for all the replies. The stress thing makes sense, the fish has had more owners than hot dinners, he's been passed about from pillar to post, none of his owners were very experienced (myself inc). The treatment he's had from me includes cooking the tank and cycling it with fish, not removing the cholrine the first time it was filled. However I'm getting there and learning a lot and I'm determined he's not going to be rehomed again!! And if that means buying a bigger tank in future then so be it. I bought him a log last week to hide in, didn't take him long to find it, so hopefully that will de-stress him a bit! Think he's a bit on the thin side as well, been giving him an algae wafer at night but the tank's very clean so he's probably not getting much to eat. Need to look into it. Do these guys grow til they die? I was under th impression he was quite old, maybe about 6/7, is it true he could live til he's bout 20? And will he keep growing til then?

The L001 is going to have to go, no room in 1 tank for both of them!

Thanks again.

 

[Genie]

oh if it's stress colouration then it's only fair i rehome mine. It'll be very sad, ive had him for 6 or 7 years now. He's my little (bot not so little) baby.

 

[scooterchick]

How big is he genie? Mine is only about 5/6 inches just now and I'm sure he's about 6 or 7, but he's had a stressful life!!! He's in a 37 gallon tank atm which will do till I've saved enough pennies to get a bigger one.

Is a bigger one not an option for you? It would be a shame to let him go. I feel bad about the big one too but he's more attractive and healthier and would be easier to rehome, plus I've got attached to my stressed plec!!