L82 Opal spot

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Recumbent

Piranha
MFK Member
Feb 16, 2010
407
187
76
San Diego
You don't see this pleco very often so I decided to take a few pictures when I broke down their tank to take my L91 dragons out. I was able to collect 16 of them in 3 groups about a year ago. All are about 4.5" to 5.5". One (probably a female) always looks beat-up on the rear half of her body the rest are in great shape. They are very shy and the males hang out in caves and the females under and behind objects. The white balance on my camera often makes the spots whiter than they really are. I will probably cut the group down to about 7 in a year or two when they stop growing. I grabbed an average one for a few close-ups. Many of these I won't see again until I break the tank down in a year or two. The pictures look bad because I didn't want to stress them with much light.

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I love these plecs. I had one a long long time ago and killed him fairly quickly with subpar water quality. I've had thoughts about getting another, not an easy pleco to find. If I get one I just hope he can compete for food with the pseudos... Your pleco collection is absolutely insane bud!
 
These are beautiful plecos. I only have one. What I notice is that they are extremely slow growers. I've had mine for about 1 1/2yrs ago and it is the same size at 4.5". Maybe it's just mine?
 
They grow faster when small. I had about a 2.5" size difference in my group about a year and a half ago 2.5" - 5". Now they are 4.5" - 6" or within 1.5". I think it will take many years before any of mine hit 9" but I can wait.
 
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