Pleco ID: Small brown and tanish markings. Very bristly on sides.

[PicoPleco]

Looking for an ID in this little fellow. We’ve had it for about 6 months and it’s only grown an inch at the very most. Size right now is about 2 inches, so pretty small. The rate of growth seems to be pretty slow or it’s a small Pleco compared to my other ones I’ve had like the P. gibbiceps. It reminds me of my clown Pleco but not sure if that would be an accurate classification for this one. Thanks!

[bekateen]

Hi PicoPleco,

Yes that is a clown pleco, probably

L448

but could be

Panaqolus maccus

. They are very similar. All the stores I know sell them as Panaqolus maccus (when they are not grossly mislabeled). But I've read that true P. maccus are rarely imported but rather L448 is the common import.

A great little pleco. Needs wood, does well at temperatures from 78F - 85F. Will enjoy vegetables like zucchini and sweet potato, but also likes occasional meats like shrimp and live blood worms.

If you get a male and female and if you provide them some caves about 1" diameter, they will breed too.

Cheers, Eric

[PicoPleco]

Hi PicoPleco,

Yes that is a clown pleco, probably

L448

but could be

Panaqolus maccus

. They are very similar. All the stores I know sell them as Panaqolus maccus (when they are not grossly mislabeled). But I've read that true P. maccus are rarely imported but rather L448 is the common import.

A great little pleco. Needs wood, does well at temperatures from 78F - 85F. Will enjoy vegetables like zucchini and sweet potato, but also likes occasional meats like shrimp and live blood worms.

If you get a male and female and if you provide them some caves about 1" diameter, they will breed too.

Cheers, Eric

Thanks Eric! I had a feeling it was a clown pleco which is cool to know that I'm starting to learn my pleco identification!

Do you know if there is a convenient way to tell males from females or should behavior be an indicator when they are together to tell?

[bekateen]

Do you know if there is a convenient way to tell males from females or should behavior be an indicator when they are together to tell?

https://www.planetcatfish.com/common/im ... e_id=19895

The most obvious difference is that mature males become coated with odontodes on the back half of the body (the caudal peduncle). If you see a pinecone or pineapple like appearance to the body in front of the tail, that's a male for sure, regardless of how fat or thin they are.

Females do tend to be fatter and may have a pointier longer nose, but I don't find those reliable. However, mature females develop a large bulge or bulb like swelling around the genital papilla.

All of this is visible in the photo I linked above.

Behaviorally, males will almost constantly hang out in caves. Females might occasionally hang out alone in caves, but will more often hide in crevices, under wood, etc.

Cheers, Eric