Need a positive ID

[Warborg]

albino hypostomus plecostomus

This is an albino hypostomus plecostomus. Note only 7 rays in its dorsal fin

 

[shenzhenluohan]

not true.

Please show me some back up on that statement mate? So far what scatz has said seems to check out. not calling you out, but I'd love to learn something.
Cheers

 

[Warborg]

Please show me some back up on that statement mate? So far what scatz has said seems to check out. not calling you out, but I'd love to learn something.
Cheers

http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=80

http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=88

Click on these 2 links and tell me how are they the same as scatz suggested?

Just because they both get the nickname chocolate doesn't mean they are both Pterygoplichthys scrophus

Or compare the first link to the one Thalan posted

 

[shenzhenluohan]

http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=80

http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=88

Click on these 2 links and tell me how are they the same as scatz suggested?

Just because they both get the nickname chocolate doesn't mean they are both Pterygoplichthys scrophus

Or compare the first link to the one Thalan posted

I've done this man, and I still have my concerns as to what species is what I have a "yellow chocolate" which fits the bill as p. scrophus, but on some angles looks Identical as the OP's plec. I realize that Pterygoplichthys (especially Xanthic) can be at times hard to ID perfectly which is why I posed the question. Because in all honesty, I'm still unsure of the true identity of mine. Is it possible that some hybridization may have occured in these cases?

 

[Tuscuttar]

My step brother bought an 'albino' plecostomus, but at first it was brown (It had pink eyes) but then turned into a vibrant orange, to me it isn't a common albino. Any ideas? And if it is a chocolate 'albino' plecostomus, will it grow bigger than a common albino plecostomus?

 

[Warborg]

I've done this man, and I still have my concerns as to what species is what I have a "yellow chocolate" which fits the bill as p. scrophus, but on some angles looks Identical as the OP's plec. I realize that Pterygoplichthys (especially Xanthic) can be at times hard to ID perfectly which is why I posed the question. Because in all honesty, I'm still unsure of the true identity of mine. Is it possible that some hybridization may have occured in these cases?

A Pterygoplichthys scrophus is a brown with even darker brown coloring. These plecos have two horn-like extended protrusions from their head that are actually nasal flutes. They also have alligator-like ridges along the sides of their body. The tail tends to have a yellowish mark at the top.

The albino Pterygoplichthys Pardalis has a reddish pink body(white belly) with dark red eyes. In fact when this fish came out(early 90's?) they were called red eye red pleco.

Could you post a pic of yours? Lighting in your tank could be changing it's color a little. I recently saw a cinnamon albino chocolate which is the same as an albino Pterygoplichthys Pardalis with brown spots on it.

Edit: yes a hybird is possible

My step brother bought an 'albino' plecostomus, but at first it was brown (It had pink eyes) but then turned into a vibrant orange, to me it isn't a common albino. Any ideas? And if it is a chocolate 'albino' plecostomus, will it grow bigger than a common albino plecostomus?

Many lfs sell everything as an albino to make more money. Sounds like your brother has an albino Pterygoplichthys Pardalis. Hard to say on the size of a pure albino as there are 2 "common albinos", an Albino Marbled sailfin can get up to 18 inches where as the Albino Hypostomus Plecostomus will get to about 12 inches. If yours is an albino Pterygoplichthys Pardalis, I'd say it can reach at least 14inches as I've had one that size and haven't seen bigger... but it's possible.