Small Acanthicus?

[SandraNewbie]

so I was at a fish hop I don't usually go to to see what they were like and spotted something worrying.

They had some odd looking 5" or 6" plecos being sold as Medium Acanthicus. When I asked the assistant she said they get to about 8 or 9" and that they'd be fine in my tank (I never told her how big my tank was, just other inhabitants).

Aren't Acanthics Plecos the HUGE 2 foot monsters? Justwanted to check there weren't little ones I was unaware of.

 

[MartinS]

Would really need to see a picture, but the four known species of Acanthicus range from 24-40", so yes, if they are actually Acanthicus, then not suited to the home aquarium.
There are a lot more species of Pseudacanthicus which probably average at around 10", though one species (P.histrix) can get to over 30".
HTH
Martin