Black and lightblue spotted pleco seeks true identity

Judazzz · Post by **Judazzz** » 26 Mar 2006, 18:06

Hi all,
two weeks ago I bought a tiny but beautiful little pleco (1,25" in size at most), but I'm not really sure about its identity. I highly doubt it's an L142, as it's spots have a light blue hue, and my initial guess (L030 or L031) does not really match the Cat-eLog either, as its spots look too big compared to those pictures.
So I wonder what kind of pleco this may be.

These are the only two pictures I've managed to take of him so far - he's so small that after releasing him it took me quite some days to trace him, and even more days to have him pose for me.

Oh, and while we're at it: I'd also like to know what the small Hypancistrus depicted below is. The fish is no more than 1,5" in size. My personal guess is L129, but I'd love to see it confirmed by any of you pro's.

In reality his lines are a bit more yellowish...

Thanks in advance

Yann · Post by **Yann** » 26 Mar 2006, 20:19

Hi!

For me the first one is quite typical for a Baryancistrus sp LDA33/L142
The second is very likely to be L129!!

Cheers
Yann

Post by **Janne** » 26 Mar 2006, 22:01

Your first one can be L254 but the second I agree with Yann that it's L129.

Janne

Yann · Post by **Yann** » 27 Mar 2006, 17:14

Hi!

I found L254 to have a more pointed nose as it shows on this picture, but a pic of the mouth showing teeth would solve the problem!
Cheers
Yann

smithrc · Post by **smithrc** » 28 Mar 2006, 02:35

thirded on the L129... Looks just like ours

not sure on the other - but its nice

racoll · Post by **racoll** » 28 Mar 2006, 08:52

my initial guess (L030 or L031)

I think it could be a very young Oligancistrus sp. L030. Most plecs have much larger spots/stripes when they are young.

It looks just like the specimens i've seen.

As well as teeth, try to get photos of where the dorsal fin ends. If it's fused to the adipose, it could well be an Oligancistrus.

eupterus · Post by **eupterus** » 28 Mar 2006, 15:56

My money is on LDA 33 snowball plec as for the other one looks like a very young flash plec L 204

racoll · Post by **racoll** » 28 Mar 2006, 16:03

I'll go for L129 for fish two as well.

Judazzz · Post by **Judazzz** » 30 Mar 2006, 22:39

Thanks for all your feedback, people!
I guess case L129 can be closed, but the other one will remain UI for a while: I was lucky to snap those two shots before he darted off to his hiding place again - all I've seen of him the last days is the tip of his tail fin. If I'm able to snap some mouth/fin pictures, I'll post them up. Until then I guess I'll have to content myself with "pretty spotted pleco" ;)