Thought was p. Gibbiceps, second thoughts

[MissNoodle]

A coworker is rehoming her pleco, asked me to take him in.

These are the photos she sent. I thought gibbiceps when seeing older photos, but these photos look maybe more like another of the commons?

No belly photos available yet, but when I get him I can take some better photos of his belly, measurements, etc.

But until then, is there a tentative identification on him/her?

[bekateen]

I think it's

Pterygoplichthys pardalis

or

Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus

.

Cheers, Eric

[MissNoodle]

Reallllly hoping of those, he's pardalis haha
Hes only about 11-12" counting the tail, several years old as well. I'd think if disjunctivus he'd be larger...

But I'll take a look at the belly view once we have him to confirm and pray he's not gonna get larger hahaha.

He will be joining my 6 foot tank with my goldfish and hoplos.

[MissNoodle]

One photo does show slight under, I see spots, rather than reticulations, so I will lean towards pardalis there too.

[MissNoodle]

Hes here, or she I don't know how to sex these guys.
But definitely pardalis I think.

[bekateen]

My understanding is that except for girth in gravid females, the reliable way to sex is comparing genital papillae.

Sexing is good to know for curiosity sake and naming (if you name your fish), but of course, these big fish haven't been spawned in aquaria, presumably because of their habit of burrowing deep into mud banks to create breeding sites. Normal caves don't replicate that.

Cheers,
Eric

[MissNoodle]

My understanding is that except for girth in gravid females, the reliable way to sex is comparing genital papillae.

Sexing is good to know for curiosity sake and naming (if you name your fish), but of course, these big fish haven't been spawned in aquaria, presumably because of their habit of burrowing deep into mud banks to create breeding sites. Normal caves don't replicate that.

Cheers,
Eric

Oh yeah I know these guys need specialty breeding conditions and tbh I have no interest in breeding commons because theyre one of the most abused fish in terms of care. It's also not a fish id normally go out of my way to obtain because I know the size of them. But my coworker is taking down her tank, and gave me some of her elderly tetras and this guy, she didn't want him going to someone who didn't know fish, and I have the space with a 6 foot tank at least, so its better than letting him go to someone who will stick him in something small. My coworker has been good to me at work, and I don't mind giving her updates on him since he was her favourite fish in her whole tank.

I like knowing for my own curiosity sake, coworker already gave him a name so we aren't changing it (she named him Ugg).

The little nub on this guy is pretty small

[Woodh]

After the boots?

[MissNoodle]

After the boots?

Lol I assumed short for "ugly" but could be after the boots too lol

Hes a cute little guy though, but Ugg suits him anyways, so no need to change it

[TwoTankAmin]

Are you sure got the named spelled right? Ugh and Ugg are way different in what they mean. And if they mean short for Ugly then wouldn't that be Ug.

[MissNoodle]

Are you sure got the named spelled right? Ugh and Ugg are way different in what they mean. And if they mean short for Ugly then wouldn't that be Ug.

Well they spelled it Ugg in text so. I know a lot of younger folk slang ugg is said sometimes for ugly, which is why I assumed. You know, these kids these days and making weird words. I'm still learning some of the ones the younger kids use. Either way I think it's a cute name. My kid thinks it's a fun name and has been calling him that all day now.

[MissNoodle]

Hes all settled in, and he is absolutely handsome! His spots are really pretty. Some blurry photos with his dorsal extended as well.

Are the body spots like this normal for pardalis?

[bekateen]

Ugh or Ugg, it's a good looking fish.

Cheers, Eric

[MissNoodle]

Can we sex Ugg off this photo?

[bekateen]

Not I. Sorry

[Birger]

I am thinking its a male.

[MissNoodle]

All I know is we are in love with him. My son especially loves him. He loves plecos the most, so he's in awe of a large pleco.

But Ugg so far is really mellow and peaceful with his new tankmates (goldfish, hoplos, and garra), he's not shy, comes out often. He swims like a shark--smooth and graceful through the water. So unlike my other plecos who just tank through everything.