Ancistrus ID?

KathyM · Post by **KathyM** » 07 Mar 2007, 17:58

Cup on PF was hesitant to ID him "properly" but said that L279 was a "distinct possibility" and that for now we'd have to just go with "piedmont ancistrus". Anything further on that from you lot?

Yann · Post by **Yann** » 09 Mar 2007, 10:13

Hi Kathy!!

really I really don't know what to think with your fish...seems each time you are posting pic your fish look different...
L279 is a clear possibility as some pic sort of fit the species, but at the same time others really don't..so I really don't know what to think anymore...

Cheers
Yann

racoll · Post by **racoll** » 09 Mar 2007, 11:44

I do wonder if a pretty crappy LFS would import L279 rather than much cheaper common bristlenoses, especially as they look just the same.

A clue is also in the price. If it was cheap I would think it much more likely to be a tank bred common bristlenose.

He does look a lot like the L279, but I am slightly more inclined to believe he is just a odd shaped common bristlenose (sp. 3).

As you say, you may never know. Ancistrus are notoriously difficult to ID. Only when you know the capture locality do you stand a chance.

KathyM · Post by **KathyM** » 10 Mar 2007, 11:45

Thanks both of you.

The one thing we can definitely rule out is sp. 3. He's definitely not one.

The previous pictures, with the exception of the ones the ohter day, were taken months ago when he was a juvenile, and even then he never had the markings of a sp. 3, or the shape.

I think the set of pics I posted 6 months ago (the ones on the rock, etc) are throwing people off as it was when he was considerably bloated from what I can only put down to over feeding.

He now has pretty normal shape for the stubbier ancistrus species (I had his shape down as much like the L088 pics on Scotcat, but I've been told his head shape is off for that).

As for what he was sold as, unfortunately our LFS is absolutely rubbish and the guy that sold me him was an assistant who had no clue what he was, or how much he was meant to be. The tank was not marked up pricewise, so he sold him to me at baby common plec price, so it's impossible to say what species he is based on what he was sold as, and what price he was.

Anyway, I'm really grateful for your input. I think I'm inclined to go along with the idea that he's either a rather small triradiatus or L279, as they're the two IDs that keep cropping up.

KathyM · Post by **KathyM** » 10 Mar 2007, 11:48

Sorry, forgot to say, the reason I bumped the thread back up was in the vain hope I could breed from him, but I think the indecision has made that impossible, which is a shame. It was nice to work that out for sure though.

racoll · Post by **racoll** » 10 Mar 2007, 14:42

Not to worry. He's a nice looking chap whatever he is.

KathyM · Post by **KathyM** » 11 Mar 2007, 09:51

Thanks

husky_jim · Post by **husky_jim** » 11 Mar 2007, 10:47

I have seen the spiece coming from peruvian shipments but without correct spiece name.
I will try to find later the river collected.