Please help to ID this pleco

[eric3333]

Please take a look and see if you recognize these plecos. I have noticed that they seem to have no use for wood, either hiding in or eating it. They also eat only cucumber and algae waffers. One of my five didn't make it and so I was able to look closely at the teeth. The back teeth are longer than the front ones. The lenght of this pleco is 5 inches. Thanks for your input.

Eric

[tagamasid1023]

Seems some kind of a Peckoltia or Hypan. A better picture will help.

[pleco_breeder]

Looks like a Peckoltia, my initial first thought was

L202

, but it really doesn't match that species well.

Larry

[nvcichlids]

How about

Peckoltia sp(l072)

?

They have been frequently available the past couple years here in the states. Markings seem about right and the second photo in teh catelog could fit in with the group?

another one that looks similar is

Peckoltia sp(l278)

[eric3333]

Hope this picture helps. As I understand it, longer teeth in the back are characteristic of some sort of Hypancistrus. That and the lack of interest in wood seem to point to something other than Peckoltia. Thank you for your comments.

Eric

[Richard B]

the lack of interest in wood seem to point to something other than Peckoltia.

Peckoltia are not wood eaters - were you thinking of panaque? My initial thought was peckoltia. As to exact species I'm not really sure

[Janne]

There are 2 genus in the pictures, the one in front is Peckoltia and the one in the back is a Hypancistrus, what they are I dont know.

Janne

[eric3333]

Richard B,

The two peckoltia types that I have experience with are actually great wood eaters. Not quite to the extent that my L204's consume wood but never the less very noticable and all are very healthy. That is L38 where both adults and their young both went through the wood. The other is the peckoltia "para" which are still young but going through the wood also. I did not know that peckoltia typically does not eat wood. Mine seem to love it and do very well.

Janne,

Although there is slight variation in markings, all four plecos look to be the same type. Thanks for the comments.

Eric

[eric3333]

I have been able to do more investigation on my unknown pleco. Most of the responders here thought that I had some sort of peckoltia which steered me in the right direction and I thank you all. It seems that dentition is the most realiable way to ID different types of plecos. That is what threw me initially as on my recently deceased speciment, the back teeth looked much longer than the front. This is characteristic of Hypancistrus. After much drying and shrinking of the pleco body, the teeth and how long they really are show up well. Those teeth are the brush type and both front and back are about the same lenght. The other now more easily noticed peckoltia trait is the 90 degree angle formed by the two lower jaws. Thanks again to everyone and Happy Thanksgiving if you celebrate that holiday.

Eric