whiskers on plecos - when and how do i get them:)

[henward]

Ok not for me personally
in my albino sailfin, or royal, and other plecs, i can see where this should be coming out from.
just wonderign, some picstures i see royals with big whiskers and bristly spikes fro the fins.... How do i get this? does this come wtih age?

 

[bcarlos]

These wiskers you refer to are known as facial odontodes, and they are determined by sex (males have larger ones), age and genetics.

 

[knifegill]

Yes, larger males of many panaques easily take the cake for the best odontodes.

 

[henward]

i did not know that, thanks
so its ust age, genetics.
i cant give them steroids or some sort of food??

 

[matubula]

You mean these!

Yes, Panaque grow the largest, but they are present throughout nearly (maybe even) all Loricariids. They are dermal teeth and cover many of the body but are most exaggerated around the operculum (gill cover), pectoral fins and down the trunk of the body. They are generally a sign of gender and maturity.

I couldn't say what causes them to grow, just a healthy fish. My 40cm L190 has always had them, my 32cm L190 never grew any on it's operculum or pectorals, my 23cm started to grow them.

These are also odontodes.

 

[bcarlos]

Matt, is that your L190? Insane!

 

[henward]

yeah those!
wow, want those whiskers

 

[matubula]

Matt, is that your L190? Insane!

Yup, he's my beast. The flash just makes him look brown rather than grey.

 

[Allan01230]

Sweet azz plec you got there!

 

[bcarlos]

Yup, he's my beast. The flash just makes him look brown rather than grey.

Awesome, probably the most impressive odontodes I've seen on here. I bet he is king of the tank!