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These are a similar species arent they? common name 'butterfly pleco'

Does anybody own one of these and could tell me little bit more about them?

Minimum tank size

Feeding

Compatibilty with othe plecs and its own kind

maximum size

What to feed it.

And anything else you want to add.

They are similar but L-168 are much brighter in colour and also seems to be a little smaller then L-52, the first one are found in Brasil at Rio negre with tributares and the second are from Rio orinoco with tributares.
It's difficult to see the different between male and female before mature, the male will get much more spinear then the female on the pectoral fins and are slighter longer then the female...the female will look more rounder when she is pregnant so it's not so hard to see when they are adults..male longer and spinier...female shorter and plumper.
They are omnivores but prefer small insects if your intention is to breed them, cyclops and brine schrimps are perfect combinied with alge pellets. They are not so fussy with water parameters as long that is in good quality and with some current.





The fry are very small compare to other loricariid's...around 9-10 mm after the youlk sac are consumed and require smallest food as possible the first week.

Janne

Thanks for the info. It was very helpful.

Are those L052's or L168's in the pictures?

Janne,
I gather you have had success in breeding L52 / 168's (?), can tou tell us how often they spawn & are they difficult to raise the young

Vegeta

It's L-168 in these pics, I have L-52 also but they have not spawn yet...I bought them for only 2 month ago and they need some more time to be conditioned before I will give them a try.

L-52


L-168 has spawn twice last two months and between these it was 25 days with around 40-50 eggs at each batch, either they was not good fertilized or there was eaten because there was no more then 20 fry that hatched each time. The fry are very small and to be honest I have not find a really good first food for them yet...but that will be solved next time they breed, they are as Sturisoma fry in size when they hatch and the yolksac is quite small.

Janne

Could i keep one L168 or L052 with a Bristlenose in a 28gallon?

Nitro .........

Where abouts in the UK are you from and how much are you paying for the L168's ?
I currently have 2 (too young to sex) and am always on the lookout for more. I have mainly been feeding with cucumber, potatoe and hikari wafers and they eat the lot.

Cheers

Bigward

I am located in Northamptonshire, in East Anglia. I dont actually own any yet so i dont know a good price for them yet.

I may or may not be getting some it all depends on what happens in about a month.

I havent looked around my area for them yet but i have contacted 'Wharf Aquactics' in Nottingham and they say that they get L168's in from time to time. They say the prices are anything from £15 to £30 depending on the size.



Hope this helps.

Nottingham is quite far from where you are.

Hi,
L 168 is Zonancistrus brachyurus, L 52 a related, undescribed species.

Janne wrote:It's L-168 in these pics, I have L-52 also but they have not spawn yet...I bought them for only 2 month ago and they need some more time to be conditioned before I will give them a try.

L-52


L-168 has spawn twice last two months and between these it was 25 days with around 40-50 eggs at each batch, either they was not good fertilized or there was eaten because there was no more then 20 fry that hatched each time. The fry are very small and to be honest I have not find a really good first food for them yet...but that will be solved next time they breed, they are as Sturisoma fry in size when they hatch and the yolksac is quite small.

Janne

Janne,

I have 4 catfish that i bought as L-52, can you tell me if the are by the pic, thanx

My guess it's a LDA 01 Panaqolus species, gold stripe.

L52 / 168's Zonancistrus brachyurus, are both very flat in profile.

Vegeta

L 52 are known as the "Atapabo pleco" in Colombia as they are collected there (Rio Atabapo) by Discus and P. altum collectors. Probably the perfect choice for the Discus/angel tank. They are adaptable and hardy, but I would shoot for soft, blackwater conditions for spawning.
-Shane

vegeta wrote:My guess it's a LDA 01 Panaqolus species, gold stripe.

L52 / 168's Zonancistrus brachyurus, are both very flat in profile.

Vegeta

I think your right, it's a L-169/LDA-01. 80 mm in length isn't right I have one of 110 mm.

Hi!

Respect: the size given here on Planetcatfish is the standard lenght which is the lenght without the tail so with it, it would be the size of yours...

Cheers
Yann