Bristlenose question

[Aura]

I recently purchased a couple more bristlenose that look a little different from my others.

There was some question between the employees at the store as to whether they were medusa or not.

I'm also wondering if the red that appears down the body is anything to worry about? My albino shows the red on the head, but this one has it along the sides of his head and down the body as well.



[img:640:283]http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/7998/bn2ut6.jpg[/img]



This is one of my others. He will occasionally show some light mottling, but nothing like the one above.

[img:640:587]http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/8855/bn4va8.jpg[/img]

As you can probably tell, I don't know much about plecos. Thanks for any help.

[MatsP]

The "Medusa" bristlenose has a VERY flat and wide shape compared to a other bristlenose species. Your pictures show a "ordinary" shape. Now, that unfortunately, only rules out the two species that are called Medusa, which leaves plenty left to sort through - there's about a hundred different species and L-numbers. Colour can rule out a few more, but there's still plenty to choose from.

The picture at the bottom looks like the "Common bristlenose"

Ancistrus sp(3)

- so unless you have strong reason to believe this is NOT the correct speceis, I'd say that's what it is, about 9 out of 10 Ancistrus species sold in the shops are this species. The ones that aren't, usually are clearly marked to what they are, to motivate the three times higher price that are asked for them.

It is possible that your first fish is a "piebald" variety, but I'm by no means certain.

I hope this is at least of some help.

--
Mats

[Aura]

I figured the bottom pictured one was a "common". My others look just like that one.

I just wasn't sure about the new one. They wanted three times the price of their common bristlenose for the medusas.

I have the new guys in quarantine for a little while. I didn't know if that redness on this one was normal or if there was a problem. I'm hoping it's just something that is visible because of the lighter pigmentation.

Thank you for your help!