Golden Vampire Pleco (Leporacanthicus heterodon)

[CatBrat]

Hi All,
I just purchaced 2 of these guys today, they measure around 11-13cmSL. Just wondering weather anyone is able to sex them? Im thinking a male and a female, judging by the head shape, fin size, and odontodes down the body. They are in very good condition, and have been in the shop for around a year to 18 months.

Fish 2 on top, Fish 1 at bottom...


Fish 1 (male?):



Fish 2 (female?):



Thanks in advance...
Cheers, Jake.

[CatBrat]

Anyone have any idea's?

Cheers, Jake.

[andywoolloo]

I do not know how to do that but they are beautiful.

Can I guess? from the beautiful colour and large heads... males? both?

[Plecofanatic1989]

I'm not a genius at this, but I believe you have it right. When I saw the first pic (without even reading the post) I thought to myself is that a male/female pair?... So IMO you have a male and a female.
Good luck breedin' them,
Josh

[pLaurent1251]

They're very beautiful. Good luck with them!

[drpleco]

for being in captivity a year and half, neither has a very gravid/female-ish body type. I'd vote two males, but I'm not an expert on this species (or any, for that matter, lol).

[Cristoffer Forssander]

Hello!

It seemes too me that they are both males. But take a new photo in a few weeks, perhaps the small one can be a female.
They are a bit small to tell the difference.

Regards
Cristoffer Forssander

[Fantasticfins]

In the first picture of both fish, the fish on the top left has shorter pectoral fins and a more rounded head. I think it's a female. The fish on the bottom right has much longer pectoral fins and seems to have a more pointed head. I would guess it to be a male. I would have to say it looks like a pair. If they have gotten along for that long at a store, I would snatch them up and give them a try.

[CatBrat]

Thanks for all the replys guys.
They have settled into my tank well, although they haven't ventured out with the lights on yet, at least not when I've been around

Fantasticfins you have said my thoughts exactly, but I am well aware that I will have to wait andsee what happens with them. A couple of other side notes Fish 1 (male?) is alot spiky-er and got stuck in the net every time he has been moved, lol. Where as Fish 2 didn't have any troubles in the net (I guess could either mean female, or sub-dominant male lacking odontodes, yes?). Also, Fish 1 has dug himself a nice cave in the sand around the rock work, where as fish 2 doesn't seem too bothered with a cave and is just hanging out on the driftwood. Just food for thought.

Does any one else keep these guys? Any pictures of adult males/females, or anything?

Cheers, Jake.

[Cristoffer Forssander]

Hello again!

I have kept these species along with L164, L240, L241, L29, L007 and L91.
I still think they are males, the small one looks like a sub-dominant male. I think it's to much odontodes on the pectoral fins!



Regards
Cristoffer

[Barbie]

I have a colony of these guys that's mature. I've seen a gravid female or two at times, but their tank mates at the moment prohibit trying to spawn them. I'm going to transfer my discus into the tank here in a few days, so I might be able to start a set of rainy season changes. I might just have to give them caves ;). While a lot of my plecos don't mind living with Tanganyikan cichlids (more mild mannered ones of course!), the cichlids don't seem to see the humor in rainy seasons, hehe.

I'm waiting for the insurance to get everything finalized to replace my camera (my car was broken into last week while I ran in to grab a water sample from a customer. That will teach me to be nice!). My dogs were in the car at the time. Even the police officer said they must have been really desperate. Oh well, I guess that's what insurance is for! Once I get another camera I'll try to get mine to volunteer for pics. They are sexually dimorphic, but definitely not as obvious as say Hypancistrus at this size.

Barbie