PlanetCatfish.com

Posting for a friend who can't get on this site for some reason. She has two ancistrus and initially thought they were the same, but now is wondering if they're different. Here's what she had to say:

One is very dark - almost black and is only about 3 inches in length. It had a rounded dorsal fin with a white edge and white edges to it's tail aswell. It has no bristles and I think it's female.



The other is now nearer 5 inches in size, is a pale-mid brown, it also has white tips to dorsal fin and tail. It is starting to grow some bristles and I suspect it could be male. This one changes it's colour depending on where it is sat and mood.



The other one has never changed colour and that is why I suspect they are different types of ancistrus.

Both were bought from the same lfs, were together in the same tank and were the same size at the time. Neither are adults yet I don't think.

It's almost impossible to ID brown bristlenose without capture location. Both these look like commons as it can be quite variable, and in a tank, one may be dominating the other without any obvious signs. If they come from the same tank at the dealers chances are they are commons. I am assuming the pics aren't too recent as I can't see significant bristle growth which could be they are both female ( unless bristles are growing on the face as opposed to on the periphery of the lip )

Hi, I'm new here but know this old spouse from another forum.

The two ancistrus here are mine so if there are any questions to help identify them please ask away. I'd like to know if they are the same type given the colour differences and size difference. I'd also like help sexing them if that's possible. They are both still quite young, I have only had them a couple of months

I'm not entirely sure how to add pictures yet but I have a close up of bristles starting to appear on the paler ancistrus

http://i1127.photobucket.com/albums/l63 ... ee819f.jpg

They have got a bit longer since I took this picture just over a month ago