goldy pleco or gold nugget

[Arowana King]

1. is there ever a goldy pleco that is 6" or smaller for sale?

2. theres a baby gold nugget my lfs is selling, nice big gold spots, but when it gets older will the spots shrink? because all the adult gold nuggets i've seen all have small spots

 

[davo]

There are 3 different Baryancistrus "gold nuggets", - a small spot, medium and large. Spots don't really shrink, but as the fish grows the spots don't really grow with them. If you like big spots, get the big spotted GN.

L018/L085 are the same fish. They are known as the medium spotted gold nugget and are found around Altamira on the Xingu. These used to be the most common.

L081 are the small spot gold nugget, sometimes known as the queen gold nugget and they are found in the lower areas of the xingu. The spots tend to be a lighter colour yellow too.

L177 are the large spot gold nugget and these are from the Iriri tributary I think. They are a really intense yellow usually (even more so than the L018).

The goldys are scobiancistrus aureatus which are my personal favourite out the lot.

Some pics... http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showpost.php?p=289317&postcount=2

 

[bigfishsmallpond]

is this what you are colling a goldy?

 

[Wet Whiskers]

I have all three types of gold nuggets, as well as a goldy. If what you are looking for is larger spots, you should go with the large spot gold nugget. Goldies spots don't look very big as they get older, just because they are on such a large pleco. I'm not sure of the growth rate of a small goldy, but I know my big guy has grown from 12" to 13.5" in about a year. So, just a heads up as growth rates usually slow down as the fish gets bigger.

Edit: Also, make sure you keep the water very clean, at a temp of 82ish, and pH at about 6.5-6.8. My guys have been thriving at these parameters. My gold nuggets have doubled their size in the last year, with my one little guy now over 6 inches.