Pterygoplichthys joselimaianus L022?

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briggadane
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Pterygoplichthys joselimaianus L022?

Post by briggadane »

Today at LFS I found a 7" pleco, gunmetal gray with cream colored spots. I bought it for $7.99 as a "regular pleco". I asked the employee twice if he was sure this was it? Even asked if he knew the L #. The guy thought I was nuts (But then, he couldnt sex the livebearers I got either). I am rather sure this is L 022, but please verify for me. This guy has a lyre tail, spots are more dense on nose, and not as semetrical on the body. Most irregular just under the dorsal fin. Edges of most fins are bars, not dots. He is not BN. Upon being loosed in my 30 gallon, he set out to rid the glass of algea. He has nasal flutes the size of my chocolate plecos. The choc. pleco is at least an inch smaller than this one. Also, compared to the choc., the gray is not as broad or wide. Its more enlongated/streamlined.

He prefers the heater area, but aquarium is set at 78F. Wont go near algea wafers or fresh cuke(dont blame him after traveling).

What I would most appreciate is knowing what this guy needs to thrive. I have well planted tanks, and like to see my plecos content, and the plants left intact. On the other hand, I want to make sure this guy is going to leave his small, livebearing, tank mates alone. I feed my plecos 2-4 algea wafers at night at lights out, on days when I dont give them squash or cukes or such.

I am sure pics would help, but all I have is a 3MP cell phone camera... Be glad to take pics if someone has a CP I can send them to and wants to post for me? :oops:
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MatsP
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Re: Pterygoplichthys joselimaianus L022?

Post by MatsP »

It's very hard to match descriptions with species.
I hope it's not, but...


Or perhaps:


If neither of those are a match, I think a photo is necessary.

[You can quite easily tell Pterygoplichthys species by the fact that they have 11 or more rays ('bones') in the dorsal [back] fin].

--
Mats
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