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

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henward

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 25, 2008
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Auckland, New Zealand
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?
 
Yes, larger males of many panaques easily take the cake for the best odontodes.
 
You mean these!

P1050930.jpg


P1060014.jpg


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.

P1060036.jpg
 
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