Which one is this (guess L450 / L287 / L173b)

[FrankvdB, posts: 19]

I really wanna know what species i bought, ik have some picture`s of the fish and im guessing it is one of the species in the topic title.
I bought 9 of them, 8 adult`s and 1 juvenile, adults measuring about 7-8 cm TL and are very diferent build then species like L333 wich i own aswell ( different size`s) and compared yet.

Here are some picture`s of the fish, wich are taken when the fish are just 3 hours in the tank.. so the colors are brichter and better now..

[Zeno, posts: 102]

Hallo Frank,

173b does not excist. It's a commercial invention.
How old are these fish ?

Greetz, Zeno

[Unungy, posts: 633]

They look like L333 to me

[FrankvdB, posts: 19]

Hey Zeno, i know.. same as some other species but what is it then? L450? L287? these fish are about 4-7 years old and dont grow anymore.

@ Unungy, i know for sure that it aint no L333! Like i said in the start post, i have a very nice group of L333 myself wich are this size and bigger, of i compare them to each other i see some diference`s, like shape and eye`s... also L333 grows bigger than this species is now. Although size cant identify a specie im very sure it aint L333.. the question is, what is it?

[Zeno, posts: 102]

Hey Frank,

I really can't tell you sorry.
L 333 is not a described species with exact characteristics and probably never will be, because who is gonna burn his hands on this ?
To me, it looks like the image we have of L 333 ...

Greetz, Zeno

[FrankvdB, posts: 19]

Hi Zeno,

tnx again for the reply it do looks a little bit like the 333, but difference is the shape and also this male`s have (even bigger) odontes as the female`s (one on the picture is a female) wich my L333 in my showtank dont have (9cm.. so smaller as this ones).. still i dont think its the L333, does someone has any idea? an please subscribe on what point u make ure decission then shape of the head is different also L333 is much more massive as this little fish

[Unungy, posts: 633]

Hey Zeno, i know.. same as some other species but what is it then? L450? L287? these fish are about 4-7 years old and dont grow anymore.

@ Unungy, i know for sure that it aint no L333! Like i said in the start post, i have a very nice group of L333 myself wich are this size and bigger, of i compare them to each other i see some diference`s, like shape and eye`s... also L333 grows bigger than this species is now. Although size cant identify a specie im very sure it aint L333.. the question is, what is it?

How would you know? Just because you bought a group and you think they are something different?
If you look around the different posts you will learn that L333 has many different variants, shapes, sizes and colors.

They alone with the L66 and lower Xingu are the most controversial pleco to ID in my opinion.

http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=36017&p=246081&hilit=larry#p246081
This is another example of L333 in my opinion.











The last picture of a group I had for sale last year. L-333 HYPANCISTRUS SP. “PORTO DO MOZ” is my very favorite L333.
I am sure other keepers can post amazing pictures of their L333 "Black and white" I have seen some amazing ones.

[FrankvdB, posts: 19]

I have the black & white from the Xingu River myself. Too bad nobody looks further than the L333, on what u think its the L333 further? What point u ID the fish @?
I mean, first look @ the size of the fish, there approx. 7 cm and may grow 1 or 2 cm maximum, i know that because the old owner had some species for about 7 years and were max 9 cm... he got em as wildcaught adults aswell.

Then i look @ some other things like the shape of the head, there is nog fish from my picture`s with a similar headshape and their pattern is different aswell however thats no good point to identify... Have u compared other species yet with this fis, and the forked tail the length and the shape/headshape & pattern and maybe the eyes aswell?

[FrankvdB, posts: 19]

also a possibility for L400 and i gues it is L450... just compare it, i understand everybody wants to put in under the L333 genus, but look a little bit further and think logically... L333 can reach 14-15 cm... this is half of it an already an almost full grown fish on this size they have been bred already

[plecoboy, posts: 254]

My first thought was L450, now start breeding them!

[FrankvdB, posts: 19]

Thats also where my thoughts go to.. i see u have L333 aswell? have u compared them?
i think also 450 size matches aswell

[FrankvdB, posts: 19]

First picture is a L333 in my showtank.. rest is the "L450" look and see the differences