Identiy Crisis

[Fluffypants]

I am very new to the fish world and am sitting at the very bottom of the learning curve so apologies to anyone who may be offended by my ignorance. We have just purchased 2 golden black-eyed plecos - that's what was written on the tank. But here lies the confusion.....do these fish go by other names? As I have been trying to research information on the internet and in books I have become muddled with the names. Are these fish also known as Golden Brislenose Ancistrus? Can someone please explain how catfish, pleco and ancistrus all relate? I am starting an aquarium log and want to have correct information including the correct name and related info (I'm very anally retentive)

I've attempted to load a photo of them. (fingers crossed)

[rcon021]

Looks like GBAz. Golden Blackeye Ancistrus L144.

http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/sp ... ies_id=905

http://www.planetcatfish.com/shanesworl ... cle_id=310

[Fluffypants]

Thank you very much for the links. Very informative and great pictures.

[SpidersWeb]

To explain the term plec or pleco, it's short for plecostomus, or in full 'Hypostomus plecostomus' which is a species of catfish that was common in the 60s/70s.

Over time the word 'pleco' has become used to describe the entire family of Loricariidae (suckermouth catfish), its not a scientific term though just a common title/name. If it's a suckermouth catfish, people will call it a 'pleco' even though its not really.

Congrats on the GBAs, great fish, I've got 5 I've grown up from babies to adults, they're hard workers and look great.