Picked this cat up today for a nice price, please ID for me.

[WyldFya]

Without knowing length, it is hard to destinguish. From the look of him he is a young one, at about 2.5"??

He does have the form and basic coloration of a L052, but to looks to be more of a L168, also known as a butterfly pleco. The L052 is a brown more towards gray, while the L168 tend to have a lighter brown, more orangish in color, to them.

The L052 will get to be approximately 4.5"; while the L168 will get to be slightly larger at about 6". Both are very easy to take care of, algae, and driftwood will suffice for them. There is no need for meaty foods for either one.

 

[WyldFya]

For the L168, as well as the L052, I would keep the water pretty neutral 6.7 - 7.3, temp 72 - 77 F, lots of hiding, and driftwood of somekind. This fish is an algae eater. Meaty foods are not essential for these guys, howerever as with most plecos, they will readily eat any frozen foods that make it to the bottom.

 

[davo]

o yeaH i forgot about L168. L052 is similar to D. brachyura but the stripes are more less clearly seperated and form a network pattern in adults. The ground colour of D. brachyura is more orange when you compare them directly. I would still say its L052, just because of the pattern doesnt seem to be exact stripes. They will change colour a lot, esp. L168, but as i agree, it looks like a juvie to me so colouration is hard to say identification wise. Either way, its a nice pleco to have picked up with commons!

 

[armac]

Before the pretty numbers became popular, that would be called a clown peckolita

 

[davo]

Before the pretty numbers became popular, that would be called a clown peckolita

they changed the name, its not considered a peckolita sp. anymore, as knowledge of the fish prevails. dont worry, it'll be changed again. probably why the L numbers are quite a good way of classifying them

 

[WyldFya]

they changed the name, its not considered a peckolita sp. anymore, as knowledge of the fish prevails. dont worry, it'll be changed again. probably why the L numbers are quite a good way of classifying them

Now there is a really true statement. Fish latin names are changing all the time.

 

[red oscar]

looks like my clown plecos

 

[WyldFya]

Clown pleco is the common name for L104 panaqolus maccus. Discovered by Schaefer & Stewart, 1993. Here is an image of the commonly know Clown pleco.

 

[davo]

and that is definately not the fish that we were identifing!

 

[WyldFya]

Nope not the same fish, either that or a HUGE individual genetic mutation.