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I just got a black pleco that is about 2 - 3 inches long. I has some white spots on it that are mosty from the dorsal fin and back to the tail. I did see a few from dorsal to head but not as many or as large. They sold him to me as a Sharpnose pleco. They didn't know what L # it was or its latin name. Noone in the store knew what it was and they had to make up a name to ring it up. I looked in the Cat-eLog and can't figure out what it may be. It seemed similar to L248 but the spots aren't that uniform. I also assume that coloration isn't enough to ID a fish so I was hoping someone may know what a Sharpnose pleco is. Should he come out of the hole I will get some picks and post for a proper ID. I have yet to notice why they call it a sharpnose other that some of the black coloration is on its lip in a line right in front past where the color stops on other parts of the lip.

Never heard of a sharp nose pleco before. I think we will need pics...

Jools

They said it was sold to them as a "sharpnose" and they hadn't heard of it before either and they are the premeir pleco store in the midwest. Well I have yet to see him out of the hole he's sharing with a fast growing L001. Will post a pick as soon as I can get one. I was going to get a pick while acclimating but my batteries were dead. Maybe I'll have to stay up late.

Which shop sold him to you?

I got him at World of Fish. They said the seller sold it to them under that name. They also said he was a new arrival. We looked up the books a bit but they weren't up to date.

This is just guessing, but:

xander wrote:has some white spots on it that are mosty from the dorsal fin and back to the tail. I did see a few from dorsal to head but not as many or as large

sometimes has a pattern like this.

is the "tooth-nosed" or "tusken pleco."

Thats odd. The guys there are usually pretty good at knowing whats what. Do you have a pic of it?

I finally got a few pics of the little guy. I had to focus in the dark and then flash the poor guy. A few turned out ok. Heres a link
http://community.webshots.com/album/123296996jkEXbO?132
Please take a look. I was thinking it may be going through a color change from juvinal to adult but since I don't know what it is I'm not sure.

I'm pretty sure it's a Leporacanthicus of some kind.

so how do i know for sure?

Try to get some information about the origin of the species from your retailer and second a better pic that show the hole fish clearly and one of the mouth, how big is he?
Thats a Leporacanthicus but I have never seen this couloration with so few dots and so "black" before.

Janne

It is Pseudacanthicus sp. from Rio J@@@.
http://www.petfarm.jp/pureko/suta-dasuto-b-torimu-b.htm
Some have full spots and others have a few spots.
Spots will fade out as fish grow..like this.
http://www.petfarm.jp/pureko/suta-dasuto-b-torimu.htm

Like HH/Silurus and Janne, I too think it's a Leporacanthicus of some kind because of the head shape.
If you want to be sure take a picture of the fish's mouth showing the teeths (from below).
Another way, but not the preferred way, is to take a picture of the fish's back from above - Leporacanthicus has a pointed nose making it the look like a thick cigar with fins

Regards
Klaus