What is female sunshine pleco suppossed to look like?

L-14 · Post by **L-14** » 27 Sep 2005, 18:02

All 3 sunshine plecos [more or less 20-30 cm long] have cheek bristles about 1-2 cm long and all have pricky pectoral spines [with 2 fish have brush-like bristles but not as long as a pic in cat-e-log]. Is female supposed to have very short or no cheek bristles and pectoral spine bristles? Any difference in shape or color?

Post by **Janne** » 27 Sep 2005, 19:35

The female have cheek odontodes but much shorter on her pectoral fins, she will also be much rounder then the males. In this size you can look on the genital papilla...if the look the same...they are the same gender.

Janne

L-14 · Post by **L-14** » 06 Oct 2005, 18:44

Judging by the long brushlike bristles on pectoral spines all 3 sunshines of mine are all males

Thanks.

plecosaur · Post by **plecosaur** » 08 Oct 2005, 20:06

On all the goldies I've seen, comparing the size of the cheek bristles is the easiest. Also, the front pectoral fin borders (towards the head when looking down on the fish) are "hairy/spiny" on the L014 males I've seen, enough that it's noticeable without looking too hard.

The other Scoribancinstrus that I keep L048 also are sexed easily the same way for reference.

L-14 · Post by **L-14** » 08 Oct 2005, 20:52

So females should have really short cheek bristles [same as zebra pleco]? Cheek bristles on my sunshines are a bit longer than eye diameter.

Is this a female or subordinate male's bristles supposed to look like?
http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/lo ... 161_12.php

BTW does adult L48 look pretty much like this?
http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/lo ... /629_1.php

And what about L133/368?