What's The Best Way To Learn L Numbers?

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divemaster99

divemaster99

Dovii
MFK Member
Jan 10, 2014
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Pittsburgh, PA
I've been trying to memorize L numbers for about 4 months but can't seem to retain more than about 15 or 20. I'd like to just go to an LFS and call out a pleco by its L number as well as coordinate an L number with a pleco just by looking at the common or scientific name or a picture. I always see tons of people on here that know what seems like every one by heart so tell me this: What's the secret?!?! you'd think there has to be some method or logical way to group a set of l numbers (ex. L001-L010) with a group of plecos (ex. Ancistrus species) but I haven't found that to be true so how do you learn them, just devote 3 hours a day to memorizing them? Just curious since I'm getting more and more into plecos and I want to learn as much as I can about their classification :)
 
First of all, one thing you need to know is that going to most LFS and calling out L numbers will only give you blank stares. Most employees and owners will only know them by common names. LFS mostly tailor to "regular" customers that won't know L numbers, and Scarlet sure sounds better than L25.

There is only one way to learn. That's stop referring to their common names. When you see one with spots and yellow tail, do you think cactus? leopard spot? well... how to tell the difference between L114 and L600 then? There are too many plecos with the same common names, and too many common names refers to different plecos.

Stop thinking about their common names, heck, in some cases, scientific names won't help either!

Bookmark this page, and refer to it whenever you come across any plecos. If you want to ask any questions about a pleco you see, let's say... a goldie, before you type it out or ask about it in person, google it's L number. So... ask something like "my l14 is in heat, how to I find her a stud?" instead of "my goldie is in heat, how do I find her a stud?"

You'll remember all the numbers really quick.
 
It may sound a bit off but, I learned the entire PDR for a pharmacology class by making an index card of every med's picture and brand name on the front and indications/contraindications/chemical name on the back. As I memorized each one solidly, I removed it from the deck of index cards until I had them all memorized. I aced the mid-term and final exams.
I'm sure the same can be done with Loricaridae cats. Print out cards with the pic and L number on the front and the generic name on the back and keep going through the deck until you have them memorized.

Or, ... an easier method would be to hang the poster series of L-cats and scan them regularly to build your recognition of individual species.

LorieLnumbers.jpg
 
Alright thanks guys! I think I'll make flash cards with the common name and picture on one side with the l number on the other.
 
I cannot memorize all of them, specially the hypans but what helped me most is owning them! Once u own one, u will never forget their L number, atleast thats how I memorize them, I dont call them with scientific names, L number is easiest for me.

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Here, give this a try to ID! I haven't seen much of these plecos posted lately so I figured will be a good one for you.

Once you ID it, i think it will be hard to forget.

20140424_192318.jpg

20140424_192318.jpg
 
Calling out L numbers in an LFS !!!???!!! That is priceless !!!!
 
divemaster99 said:
I'll probably be wrong but I'm going to guess L025...
Click to expand...

Nope, try again, observe the face and armor, its not in pseuda family

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