Black Pleco ID

[JasonGoneFishing]

This new species comes from Suriname, any possible ID for this guy? I'm getting it tomorrow and I think it's the only one in the states. They are calling it Pseudacanthicus sp. "black hole" for now.

[Jools]

Pseudacanthicus fordii

? It may be a trick of the position of the dorsal fin, but the top photo looks to show the dorsal fin connected to the back of the fish. My suggestion is more on the second photo. They are not the same individual and I am not even sure the top photo is a

Pseudacanthicus

.

Jools

[JasonGoneFishing]

Are either rare plecos? What is their L number?

[Carolus]

Jools, could the top specimen maybe be Pseudacanthicus Serratus? I saw a preserved specimen in the Aquarium Museum in Liège, Belgium that looked similar to the one in the top photo. Atleast the spines along the body appear very similar to me

[JasonGoneFishing]

The Pseudacanthicus Serratus that I have found online are not jet black like this guy, they are more red. They said this is the blackest pleco he has ever saw and still that way in his tank.

[Jools]

Are either rare plecos? What is their L number?

Yes, they are rare. They don't have an l-number, we've known about these fish for a century and a half - but the main reason it doesn't have an l-number is paucity of imports / info from their location / habitat.

Jools

[Karsten S.]

Hi,

the catfish in the upper picture looks like Pseudacanthicus serratus (from Marowijne river) as it is shown in the book from Mol "The freshwater fishes of Suriname"; the colour is therein described as black or dark brown, in the initial description it's the colour of "molten chocolate". Do the fish have whitish spots on the ventral surface or somewhere else ?

The second pic comes closer to a specimen depicted in the same book as Pseudacanthicus sp. from upper Corantijne river.

Pseudacanthicus spp. from Suriname seem to be rather rare not only in the hobby but also in nature.

Cheers,

[JasonGoneFishing]

The fish that I'm getting is the second one, you think it's worth the $450 price tag? I have no issue paying that much for a pleco but just want to make sure it is a rare fish as someone said it was and the price is worth it.

[catfishchaos]

Oliver has some photos of Serratus on his face book, in my opinion it looks very similar to fish in the first photo

[JasonGoneFishing]

What is his Facebook?

[catfishchaos]

What is his Facebook?

My bad

https://www.facebook.com/belowwater/

[JasonGoneFishing]

This is from another guy, name is Wes.

[Acanthicus]

Hi,

the first shown specimen is Pseudacanthicus serratus, P. fordii is a synonym to P. serratus. The species was exported a few times within the last months and some specimens made it to Europe, most to Asia and apparently also to the US. 450$ is a bargain, compared to what we need to pay here.

The second one looks slightly different in head shape and size of the dorsal fin compared to the upper specimen and the ones I saw alive. It would be cool to get some more images once you received it.

The "red serratus" you are talking about could be P. pitanga. Unfortunately many people stiill sell a completely different looking fish under a wrong name and still claim to do it the right way.

cheers, Daniel