What is it?

[ostrow]

Ok, I bought a pleco today that my lfs said is a terrific algae eater for its entire life and stays less than 6". They call it a "Spotted Alvino Pleco". Google search turns up one hit with a guy's description of his tank.

planetcatfish.com comes up empty.

It is slate grey, with a black spot pattern.

Large suckermouth with fine bristles, no "teeth", seems to make it ideal as lifelong algae eater rather than some plecos which as adults go for bigger items.

So, if "Spotted Alvino" isn't the right name, what is? Any ideas

 

[reg2k2]

Not a bulldog, is it?

 

[cryosi]

now i thought that as i have one he only 1inch long! cute little guy a few species thou!

 

[ostrow]

cry you got a pic of yours so I can compare. Course yours is 1/3 the size of mine, but maybe that'll give me an idea. From planetcatfish it doesn't look the same -- on mine the spots are noticeably smaller on the the head. Also the dorsal fin appears more translucent on mine.

 

[cryosi]

http/images.google.com/images?svnum=10&h...tostoma&spell=1


I dont have any pics of mine as yet, will try to get some when i have a few minutes spare. not many pics of them on the net either. I can tell you some have more spots than others , some have none, mine only has one or two on him if that. I will try to find out some more info , i dig get some before i bought mine but i am not sure what i have done with it . bare with me

 

[ostrow]

so those chaetostoma (sp?) punctata's are known as bulldog or rubbernose plecos?
I think mine looks a bit like hte one called albino on the bottom, but hard to tell. Even pics identifying fish as the same look quite different.


Anyway, I think htat's it.

Thanks!

 

[Gibbo]

Leporacanthicus Joselimai by any chance?


Planet Catfish

 

[ostrow]

Wow Gibbo ... I wish it were that one! You can send me one of those any time. Nope, ain't that one.

 

[CFC]

I have one of those Lovely little fish but sadly hardly ever seen

 

[reg2k2]

Aww, I'm jealous! I'd seen some babies at the store a few weeks ago, weren't labeled, but had to be them. There were about seven of them, nudging each other all over the place...too funny.
And quick too!! Are all baby plecos so quick?

 

[ostrow]

It is this one:
http/www.fish2u.com/spotalplec.html

Here's how I found it. Aquariumstuffers.com has dropped its shipping rate dramatically so I snooped.

I found the albinus pleco (not alvino).

So I did a google search on that and found what you see on that link.

Not sure of L number or if it is same as rubbernose ... seems a bit different in spotting pattern. Anyway, there you have it.

 

[Gibbo]

Give 'em plenty of current and rounded pebbles, they're rapids fish. A good powerhead would be advantageous because they need a lot of dissolved Oxygen in the water.

 

[ostrow]

Well, gibbs, got an Eclipse 3 hood with both returns pointed across the tank so that gives a nice flow. Not a lot more I can do for him. Rounded pebbles? Well, perhaps I'll have to add some nice round stones for him over time but the pebbles aren't exactly smooth and round in there right now!

You know any more about these guys? L-number?

So far, he hasn't left the underside of a piece of slate rock. Must have found somehting yummy there.