Tiger or L333 or other?

[Lesley123]

I've been looking after this plec for around a year. Its in a tank at work and hasn't been cared for properly. The tanks upended so is tall and has little floor space, water changes were non existent and it was lucky to see even flake food. Despite all that, it outlived everything else. I reckon its about 3yrs old.

Since I became involved hes grown a little bit and plumped right up. It seems to change colour. Ranging from being quite dark to very orangey.

I originally thought Tiger but then came across L333 today. Still not convinced its either. And ideas? Thanks in advance.

[Narwhal72]

Well it's not a Peckoltia sp. (Tiger Plecos) or Hypancistrus (L333, L66, etc...).

I think that is a Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps and a really exceptional looking one at that.

Quite the find.

Andy

[Acanthicus]

Hi,

stunning specimen of G. / P. joselimaianus.

[Lesley123]

Thank you both for your replies!

Someone had suggested gibbiceps to me previously but I didn't think the dorsal fin was quite the right shape.

G. / P. joselimaianus seems to be a great match! A few of the photos are very similar. Its slightly better news as it won't grow quite as big as a gibbiceps. I'm going to rehome it to my tank at home, hopefully it and the bristlenose will learn to like each other. My tank is x3 the length of the one its in at the moment (and maintained properly!) so it should bring it on even more. Something that beautiful deserves better.

What do you make of the colours changing? Is this normal?

[Narwhal72]

Looking more carefully I agree that it is probably P. joselimaianus as opposed to P. gibbiceps. The light areas appear to be the spots and not the dark areas. Still it is a mostly reticulated specimen which is very unusual and definitely the most attractive specimen I have ever seen.

Andy