Weird Aquabid.com Auction

fishboy20 · Post by **fishboy20** » 17 May 2005, 03:24

Well I am interested in the plecos that are listed at as L-287's on aquabid.com right now. They look like L-250's to me or sumthin close, not actually L-287's. Anyone have an opinion on the auction listed below?

http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/ ... 1116715415

Yann · Post by **Yann** » 17 May 2005, 17:12

Hi!

this is no L287. the body shape reminds me a lot of H. zebra and it could well be a real L250.

Hypancistrus sp "Belo Monte" is also very close

Cheers
Yann

Post by **Barbie** » 17 May 2005, 18:01

Yann the fish in this auction look enough like my L173 that were collected at Altamira to be twins. There is a broad variance in the coloration in the group, but there are fish in the first and second group of them that I have that look identical to these. You were sure that mine were L287, but these are not?

I'll get you more pictures of the second group I recently received. I guess I shouldn't have focussed on the pictures of the 2 darker patterned ones in the group, maybe.

Barbie

kev · Post by **kev** » 17 May 2005, 18:04

im with Yann they don't look like L287

Kev

Sven T. · Post by **Sven T.** » 17 May 2005, 19:38

Hi,

it is sure a Hypancistrus sp. "Belo Monte".

Some times ago the "Belo Monte" was called L287. This wasn't correct IMO.

The "belo Monte" gets his own L-Number in the next time.

Sven

fishboy20 · Post by **fishboy20** » 17 May 2005, 20:16

Then this person has another auction listed as L-287 that actually looks sorta like L-287.

http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/ ... 1116802080

Post by **Barbie** » 18 May 2005, 09:40

OK, I took another 50 or so pictures of these fish. I separated them into two galleries, one for each of the two groups I purchased. The newer group definitely didn't appreciate being rousted out of their new found hiding places. You can see the galleries Here and Here.

There is an extreme amount of variation among the fish in the two groups. Each group was purchased from a single wholesaler from one single group of fish they received in as L173.

To be honest, I'm beginning to wonder if this situation will ever be cleared up. Just thinking about it makes my brain ache this evening.

Barbie

Kenneth Wong · Post by **Kenneth Wong** » 18 May 2005, 21:19

Hi Barbie,

As I look at your pictures more, those look more like L287 and possibly some L333, IMO, but how can we be sure. My L333s/L66s look identical to several of your pictures from the second group with the well defined white/yellow bands other than pattern.

The ones with the duller white appear more like th L287 in aqualog and DATZ.

Ken

Post by **Barbie** » 18 May 2005, 22:00

Yeah, I look back through the pictures and to ME my fish look darker. When you look at them in the tank, they don't look as darkly patterned. Some have the spotted pattern, some are very dull with lots of brown to their white. Like I said, I'd love to just hear they're all the same species ;).

Barbie

Kenneth Wong · Post by **Kenneth Wong** » 18 May 2005, 23:35

I don't know if anyone will ever get to the bottom of this. Perhaps your right and they are all the same species. Have you notice that even among all your baby zebras there are variations in the pattern and thickness of the black bars. This makes me think that the same variations can occur in the L66, L333, L236, L287, and L173 in any given spawn. On top of that even different parent groups can give different looking offsprings. The other thing, which you probably already know, pictures never really do a fish justice.

Ken

Yann · Post by **Yann** » 19 May 2005, 17:09

Hi BArbie!

Well to me they are still some which are L287 and t h edarker ones look like some L333 possibly the so called orange variety

But yours look really different from the fish in the Aquabid auction!

Cheers
Yann

zenyfish · Post by **zenyfish** » 19 May 2005, 17:57

It's certainly possible to determine if they are the same species with genetic comparisions.

Though trying to get someone to foot the bill will be a problem ... if only some phd student needs a thesis?