Thanks Shane and DPM1. Yes, the word "common" opens up a whole Pandora's box! I sincerely appreciate the information and am learning as I go. I am ignorant, but I can learn! Shane, I will have to check the stores out you mentioned. I have been to one of them, but always looking for new pla...

The cf description you offered helps! Now, if I can just find somewhere to buy one like the specimen photographed for Planet Catfish!! The picture from Planet Catfish for the one I want is beautiful and very similar to the one I had that died, though mine was bigger. A lot of the bristlenose picture...

After an unknown pleco in my tank died at the ripe old age of about 20, I began the search for a new one. With budget, tank size, desire for something peaceful, wanting something that eats algae, etc, I finally settled on Ancistrus cf. cirrhosus. I went to my local store, inquired about plecos, and ...

UPDATE. My previous one looked a LOT like Pterygoplichthys pardalis L021 picture on this site, but it says they get to more than 12 inches; mine was 10. Another site said they get to 18" Whoa! One site said they love algae, especially when young, but were omnivores and need other supplemental f...

I had a pleco for many years... about 10" full grown, and lived about 25 years (yes, I know, sites say they live for 15). He ignored flake foods, plants, driftwood. He ate green algae growing on the glass, filters, plants, rocks, driftwood, etc. Nocturnal. Occasionally skittish, but didn't seem...