Which Cactus pleco do I have

Did you know fantastic help is an anagram of Planet Catfish? This forum is for those of you with pictures of your catfish who are looking for help identifying them. There are many here to help and a firm ID is the first step towards keeping your catfish in the best conditions.
Post Reply
User avatar
Proteus
Posts: 431
Joined: 02 Nov 2008, 19:33
My cats species list: 2 (i:0, k:0)
Spotted: 1
Location 2: Chicago, IL

Which Cactus pleco do I have

Post by Proteus »

Recently brought this guy off someone who is converting into SW setup. He had this guy in his Discus tanks at 86 degrees eating bloodworms beefheart etc what he fed the discus, this guy ate it all. He brought it 2 years ago at 2.5" He doesn't remember where he got it from. Its now 5.5"? I did not measure it exactly as it was a 45 minute drive home currently in the clown loach tank at 82 degrees it will be transferred into a 75g tank I intend to have it at 80-82degrees and upgrade all clowns and him into a 300 gallon within a year or two.
Attachments
IMG_14721.jpg
IMG_14751.jpg
IMG_14731.jpg
User avatar
Acanthicus
Posts: 862
Joined: 24 Jan 2011, 14:32
My articles: 5
My images: 91
My cats species list: 29 (i:0, k:0)
Spotted: 79
Location 1: Kiel
Location 2: Germany
Contact:

Re: Which Cactus pleco do I have

Post by Acanthicus »

Pseudacanthicus sp. ""
Daniel
User avatar
Proteus
Posts: 431
Joined: 02 Nov 2008, 19:33
My cats species list: 2 (i:0, k:0)
Spotted: 1
Location 2: Chicago, IL

Re: Which Cactus pleco do I have

Post by Proteus »

Thank you very much Daniel.
User avatar
Proteus
Posts: 431
Joined: 02 Nov 2008, 19:33
My cats species list: 2 (i:0, k:0)
Spotted: 1
Location 2: Chicago, IL

Re: Which Cactus pleco do I have

Post by Proteus »

Another Question thats bothering me. Why are L600s and L114s looking so similar as I looked up a local importer that had L114s in stock and their coloring is not as orange as his is at a smaller size already and some of the labeled L600s that same source has in at 6" is showing that same coloring and a 9" specimen too. Did they get their L numbers messed up? Or does it depend on its region it was collected in? Last thing I want to do is create a hybrid.

Jess
User avatar
Proteus
Posts: 431
Joined: 02 Nov 2008, 19:33
My cats species list: 2 (i:0, k:0)
Spotted: 1
Location 2: Chicago, IL

Re: Which Cactus pleco do I have

Post by Proteus »

Example of why I got confused.
Attachments
Screenshot_20200127-130730_Samsung Internet.jpg
Screenshot_20200127-130756_Samsung Internet.jpg
User avatar
Proteus
Posts: 431
Joined: 02 Nov 2008, 19:33
My cats species list: 2 (i:0, k:0)
Spotted: 1
Location 2: Chicago, IL

Re: Which Cactus pleco do I have

Post by Proteus »

Thought once they all matured they LOSE the coloring the more they grow?

So in this batch of L114s I expect them to lose more orange in the seam coloring?

While see the L600 younger one has less orange than the older specimen? Its confusing
Attachments
Screenshot_20200127-134149_Samsung Internet.jpg
Screenshot_20200127-134138_Samsung Internet.jpg
User avatar
Jools
Expert
Posts: 16140
Joined: 30 Dec 2002, 15:25
My articles: 198
My images: 948
My catfish: 237
My cats species list: 87 (i:237, k:1)
My BLogs: 7 (i:10, p:202)
My Wishlist: 23
Spotted: 450
Location 1: Middle Earth,
Location 2: Scotland
Interests: All things aquatic, Sci-Fi, photography and travel. Oh, and beer.
Contact:

Re: Which Cactus pleco do I have

Post by Jools »

It's simpler to look at the spots on the head. will have no spots for a portion of the head anterior of the eye.

Jools
User avatar
Acanthicus
Posts: 862
Joined: 24 Jan 2011, 14:32
My articles: 5
My images: 91
My cats species list: 29 (i:0, k:0)
Spotted: 79
Location 1: Kiel
Location 2: Germany
Contact:

Re: Which Cactus pleco do I have

Post by Acanthicus »

Hi

L 114 are from Rio Demini. The spots on the head are bigger than they are in P. leopardus.

L 600 is not an official L-Number, but a trade name. The species is described as P. leopardus and should be called this name, nothing else. It's from the Rio Branco-drainagge, often collected in Rio Rupununi for trade.

Both loose parts of their colour during maturing, but P. leopardus still tend to have a more intense colouration.
Daniel
User avatar
Proteus
Posts: 431
Joined: 02 Nov 2008, 19:33
My cats species list: 2 (i:0, k:0)
Spotted: 1
Location 2: Chicago, IL

Re: Which Cactus pleco do I have

Post by Proteus »

Thank you for the clarification
Post Reply

Return to “What is my catfish?”