Pleco ID?

[SalviniCichlidFan]

Hi all,

I had this Pleco for 3 years now, but to this day I still don't know what species it is. It was sold to me as a clown Pleco, but after looking at photos of clown Pleco, they don't seem that similar. I also thought it was a common Pleco, but it doesn't have the same colors (commons are black and white, mine is brown and yellow). Furthermore, he has stayed in the 5 inch range for years, which is also not common for a common Pleco. I also thought it's a sailfin Pleco, but again the size is off.

 

[1 2many]

Most likely L001 Pterygoplichthys joselimaianus

 

[SalviniCichlidFan]

Most likely L001 Pterygoplichthys joselimaianus

Thanks for the reply. They do look very alike in terms of body shape, features, and color patterns, but I researched and saw that the L001s grow to 12 inches in length, which doesn't match up with my plecs 5 inches.

 

[fishhead0103666]

What size tank has it been in for these 3 years? It could have been stunted.

Or, dare I say it, it could be a runt. As far as I’m aware runts are rare but there are documented cases of some fish just not growing to the documented adult sizes while being in a suitable tank with suitable conditions.

Very beautiful nonetheless, enjoy your pleco comrade.

 

[phreeflow]

Looks like a Shortbody sail fin

 

[TwoHedWlf]

Most likely L001 Pterygoplichthys joselimaianus

Yup, that's what it looks like, but stunted.

 

[tlindsey]

Looks like a Marbled Sail fin to me as well.

 

[SalviniCichlidFan]

What size tank has it been in for these 3 years? It could have been stunted.

Or, dare I say it, it could be a runt. As far as I’m aware runts are rare but there are documented cases of some fish just not growing to the documented adult sizes while being in a suitable tank with suitable conditions.

Very beautiful nonetheless, enjoy your pleco comrade.

it's in a 29 gallon. I think it might be a runt as well since it looks like a sized-down version of a L001 or a marbled sailfish as tlindsey said