Pleco Id

[Offelias]

Hi guys,

I was wondering if someone could help me identify this pleco?
I received him today from the LFS for £3 and he/she was sold as an orange spotted plec.
However, the colouring doesn't seem to fit. He has quite the beautiful dorsal fin and has orange spots all over. It seems to be possibly a form of sailfin? But it all honesty I'm guessing.

Ill try to get a better (profile) pic as soon as it makes an appearance. It's currently hiding under one of the pieces of bogwood. If it helps, it has two small raised bristleish lines either side of its forehead.

Thanks for your help.
X

 

[Mikey1]

hard to tell for sure, but it could be a Pterygoplichthys joselimaianus
 
if it is, you dont want him....they become very aggressive when the mature and reach breeding size

 

[JenCliBee]

hard to tell for sure, but it could be a Pterygoplichthys joselimaianus
 
if it is, you dont want him....they become very aggressive when the mature and reach breeding size

 
 
Mikey1 is correct on the ID.. L001, aggression isn't really an issue, tank size is unfortunately.

 

[Offelias]

Thanks for the help.
I've just done a little reading. This one on its own should be fine even at full size in this current tank.
I'd thought about keeping a pleco before receiving this tank, so I had considered the "what if + size" before buying.

Original planting ideas have changed. No longer plan on carpeting sections as I'd like to keep open space for when it gets bigger.

 

[Mikey1]

hard to tell for sure, but it could be a Pterygoplichthys joselimaianus
 
if it is, you dont want him....they become very aggressive when the mature and reach breeding size

 
 
Mikey1 is correct on the ID.. L001, aggression isn't really an issue, tank size is unfortunately.

 
 
i had an very aggressive one in a 600 gallon tank, so i doubt the tank size was the issue

 

[JenCliBee]

Thanks for the help. I've just done a little reading. This one on its own should be fine even at full size in this current tank. I'd thought about keeping a pleco before receiving this tank, so I had considered the "what if + size" before buying. Original planting ideas have changed. No longer plan on carpeting sections as I'd like to keep open space for when it gets bigger.

Your ideally looking for a 5x2x2 minimum for this plec, they can reach a potential 18 inches with the average is probably closer to 15.... 8-10 inches should be expected within the first 12 months if given optimal conditions

 

 

hard to tell for sure, but it could be a Pterygoplichthys joselimaianus
 
if it is, you dont want him....they become very aggressive when the mature and reach breeding size

 
 
Mikey1 is correct on the ID.. L001, aggression isn't really an issue, tank size is unfortunately.

 
 
i had an very aggressive one in a 600 gallon tank, so i doubt the tank size was the issue

 
???, comment wasn't actually aimed at you rather the OP so he new that they get big... however, ill reply to you now.... just because you had '1' aggressive instance with this particular fish, doesn't mean they all should be tarred with the same brush, ive kept many (in very larger, down to sufficient sized tanks) and also know of hundreds more that have never shown an ounce of aggression in the whole time they have been kept. There will always be exceptions to the rule as you have mentioned yours was but there not an overly aggressive fish, just clumsy with how they move and what they do.

 

[Mikey1]

Thanks for the help. I've just done a little reading. This one on its own should be fine even at full size in this current tank. I'd thought about keeping a pleco before receiving this tank, so I had considered the "what if + size" before buying. Original planting ideas have changed. No longer plan on carpeting sections as I'd like to keep open space for when it gets bigger.

Your ideally looking for a 5x2x2 minimum for this plec, they can reach a potential 18 inches with the average is probably closer to 15.... 8-10 inches should be expected within the first 12 months if given optimal conditions

 

>>> 

 

hard to tell for sure, but it could be a Pterygoplichthys joselimaianus
 
if it is, you dont want him....they become very aggressive when the mature and reach breeding size

 
 
Mikey1 is correct on the ID.. L001, aggression isn't really an issue, tank size is unfortunately.

 
 
i had an very aggressive one in a 600 gallon tank, so i doubt the tank size was the issue

 
???, comment wasn't actually aimed at you rather the OP so he new that they get big... however, ill reply to you now.... just because you had '1' aggressive instance with this particular fish, doesn't mean they all should be tarred with the same brush, ive kept many (in very larger, down to sufficient sized tanks) and also know of hundreds more that have never shown an ounce of aggression in the whole time they have been kept. There will always be exceptions to the rule as you have mentioned yours was but there not an overly aggressive fish, just clumsy with how they move and what they do.
 

 
 
 
 
 
no, not just mine.....i have heard many instances from many different people regarding aggression from the same species.....im not generalizing on my own experience

 

[Offelias]

Thanks for the heads up I'd read about 10 inches.

My tank is 4ft so at least for the next year it'll be of adequate size.
I suspect in a years time (ill have moved into my permanent home for the foreseeable future - yay finally!), I could think about upgrading if necessary. Or rather when the time is right for the pleco.

I'm getting quite into fish keeping, and I'd love to set up a cichlid tank further down the line.
Perhaps that's something I can think about for when the pleco requires a larger home...

 

[JenCliBee]

no, not just mine.....i have heard many instances from many different people regarding aggression from the same species.....im not generalizing on my own experience

 
oh... ok

 

Thanks for the heads up

I'd read about 10 inches. My tank is 4ft so at least for the next year it'll be of adequate size. I suspect in a years time (ill have moved into my permanent home for the foreseeable future - yay finally!), I could think about upgrading if necessary. Or rather when the time is right for the pleco. I'm getting quite into fish keeping, and I'd love to set up a cichlid tank further down the line. Perhaps that's something I can think about for when the pleco requires a larger home...

 
 
Link for a little more info for you

......http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=177
 
The size listed is without tail and a general average, on this sized plec, you could be adding anything upto 4 inches for the tail alone.