Faran Posted April 25, 2006 Report Share Posted April 25, 2006 So a friend asked me to sell a pleco he had lurking in one of his tanks and I honestly can't identify it 100%. I initially thought it was a snowball pleco but it has gold eyes and no black edge to the dorsal and caudal fin like my snowball. Other suggestions from a catfish-pro are L004/5/28/73 or L201 but I've now managed to get some pics to help identify it. To be honest, I would think it was a goldie/sunshine plec if it didn't have dark fins.. any suggestions are appreciated. The pics on Photobucket can be found by clicking here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Posted April 25, 2006 Report Share Posted April 25, 2006 After much scouring, staring, agonising and more staring, I reckon it has to be an L082 - Opal Pleco (Ancistrinae gen. sp.). Comparisons of the dorsal fin and mouth in particular were what swung it for me. The markings, eye and pectoral fins also seemed to line up with the L082 better than any other comparisons I'd made. It's a beautiful beastie. Oh well, best be off....things to do, groups of heavies to break into Faran's house to organise..... . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Posted April 25, 2006 Report Share Posted April 25, 2006 Oops, I forgot to post a link: http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/lo ... /445_F.PHP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatBrat Posted April 25, 2006 Report Share Posted April 25, 2006 IMO it is definatly not L082. The teeth of alll Ancistrini spp. do not match your fish, rather they have 4 large, flat rasping pads (not teeth as in your fish). Judging by the teeth structure I am pretty sure that is a scobinancistrus sp. of some description. Maybe either L048 or L368? BTW, thats the same family as L014 so your guess was pretty good BK! I could still be wrong though. Cheers, CatBrat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faran Posted April 25, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2006 Hey Jake, thanks for the input. I thought Laura was dead on it but the body shape didn't quite match up - the opal spotted plec doesn't have any tapering through the abdomen on the way to the tail, therefore the "spotted cigar pleco" common name. The L048 juvenile looks spot on and the number of rays in the fins match up as well. Was thinking it was a goldie when I saw the tooth structure, therefore the mouth close-ups in the album shots (scuse the hairs, he had a close encounter with the carpet moments before the photo shoot). So yeah, an interesting fish and will be even scarier than my 16cm snowball when it grows up to 30cm.... Impressive fish with the fine speckling though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Posted April 25, 2006 Report Share Posted April 25, 2006 Cool CatBrat, I see where you're coming from and I have to agree now you've pointed that out! He was such a challenge to identify. I had it narrowed down to L201, L048 or L082; I went with L082 due to its distinctive dorsal fin in particular. (scuse the hairs, he had a close encounter with the carpet moments before the photo shoot). Hehe, I was wondering what that was! Go on, tell us the story..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faran Posted April 26, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2006 Ah, you know. Trying to hold a slippery catfish with one hand and take a picture with the other. Next thing you know you have a picture of an empty hand and a catfish making a break for freedom across the carpet.... Sadly enough I wasn't around to stop my pair of Hoplos when they made their prison break the other day. Found the dessicated carcasses completely mummified but I DID try putting them in water, just in case. You never know with catfish. So l048 it is. Too bad it's such a monster. Not much of a market for large plecs as they need big tanks and can't be bred easily. I'll prolly keep this one and put him in a large discus display tank with Royals. He's growing out with discus at present so it's fitting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faran Posted May 11, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2006 Just an update on the Gold Cloud as he's now a very active and social member of the tank he lives in. Proper feeding, water conditions and temperature have really improved his spirits.... and the fact that all the decent hidey holes are taken by much larger plecs sure does make him very visible! A website with some info on L048... Planetcatfish L048 And yes, I've decided to keep this wee beasty for myself as it's such an odd find. Not sure what I'll do with it in 5 years when it gets to 30cm, but I hope it gets along with similar sized Royals! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke* Posted May 28, 2006 Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 Very nice, great pics Blue Does it not try to suck on to the sides of the discus? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faran Posted January 14, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2007 To answer a VERY old question - Luke, I've only had a couple instances with catfish sucking on the sides of discus. One was a common pleco that did it at about 30cm and practically left a hole in the discus, and the other was a female BN that developed a taste for discus slime when a pair was spawning. These were individual fish and should not be generalized to include all suckermouth catfish, etc etc - both instances were easily remedied by removing the oddball fish. So, a few months ago I moved the Gold Cloud to a large tank full of fancy plecs. Colouration and behaviour was normal... until a few weeks ago. Somehow, Mr L048 found out how to make his skin look like urban camouflage! The shades of grey have mellowed out and left mostly black and white, but still a very interesting colour pattern. My belief is that he is currently going through a pattern change whilst growing. I'm gonna chalk it down to acne for now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiden Posted January 15, 2007 Report Share Posted January 15, 2007 Man that sucker looks totally different and cool :bounce: Awesome update blue&kim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke* Posted January 15, 2007 Report Share Posted January 15, 2007 Wow that's weird aye. Oh and thanks for the answer, I was feeling left out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faran Posted January 15, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2007 LOL, sorry mate, but I suppose I left the forums and never saw it until today :oops: This pic was taken just before lights out... I'd love to put him in a concrete/urban environment and see how he blends in. Who's got mad photoshop skillz? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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