Can anyone confirm ID of these 2 pleco's

[Joey1994]

I rescued these 2 pleco's today
I'm thinking of both of them beeing Pterygoplichthys pardalis

But they look very different from above from each other.

Pleco 1





Pleco 2





Together in the Bucket

[Acanthicus]

Hi

You are right, both are P. pardalis, one of the many very variable species in pattern and colouration.

[Joey1994]

Thanks. How come that there is such a big variation?

[Shane]

Many loricariids change coloration based on size, substrate color, age, ambient light, dominance, stress factors and a few other conditions. That is what you are observing.
-Shane