Is this a common pleco?

Busterny · Post by **Busterny** » 23 Feb 2019, 01:55

This pleco came with a tank that I picked up. Is this a common pleco? It has some red/orange in the body and fins that is throwing me off.
Thanks in advance,
Neil

Bas Pels · Post by **Bas Pels** » 23 Feb 2019, 08:22

I think you have a young Pterogoblichthys gibbiceps. They grow to 50 cm, including the tailfin. Beautifull fish, but they need a large tank, 1000 (some 270 US gallons) liters or more when adults.

YouTube · Post by **Jools** » 23 Feb 2019, 11:32

No, this is or similar. Post a pic of the belly, it won't be spotted.

Jools

Busterny · Post by **Busterny** » 24 Feb 2019, 03:59

Sorry for the blurry pic.
There are spots on the belly

YouTube · Post by **Jools** » 25 Feb 2019, 09:40

Sorry, I was imprecise, I meant round spots as opposed to what we see here which are blotches. P. gibbiceps has clear round spots both on the belly and in the fins which your fish doesn't show. The dorsal fin would be larger in that species too.

Although it will get big, if you let it grow a little the differences are even clearer.

HTH,

Jools

Bas Pels · Post by **Bas Pels** » 25 Feb 2019, 19:55

The problem with Pterogoblichthys is that they have a rather colorfull dress untill some 5 cm. Very different from the adult dress. I thought gibby because of the tail, but the rst is, indeed different.

Also the belly is clearly not P gibbyceps, but P pardalis. As Jools predicted

Busterny · Post by **Busterny** » 03 Mar 2019, 01:49

Thank you all for the clarification.

Is this a common pleco?

Is this a common pleco?

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