My "bristlenose" appears to be Pterygoplichthys?

[SuperSic]

Let me preface this by saying, bollocks :/

Purchased 2 juvenile "bristlenose" at less than 2cm long, unfortunately 2 became 1 by morning.

This lone "bristlenose" has been extremely elusive over the last 6 months, and by elusive I mean today is the first time me and the partner have actually managed to see more than a flash of a shadow at the back of a planted tank now shared with a betta.

So today we finally see our little bristlenose, and it's not little anymore, at about 3 inches long.

And it does not look anything like a bristlenose....

I think I count 14 dorsal rays, possibly 15? 3 rows of spines down the side of the body.

Please help with ID, though I already know this fish will almost certainly need rehoming now, it currently resides in a 50l planted betta tank and my current largest tank is 200l. Though I am not adverse to trying to convince the wife to let me get a much bigger tank.

[BullFishkeeping]

Definitely a Pterygoplichthys, though I am not sure which.

[SuperSic]

I'm thinking Pterygoplichthys sp. (L164).....maybe

[Jools]

The common pleco,

Pterygoplichthys pardalis

.

Jools

[SuperSic]

The common pleco,

Pterygoplichthys pardalis

.

Jools

I would be okay with that, cheers Jools.

Time for a tank upgrade then. And to get another bristlenose.

[Bas Pels]

You don't happen to have a pic of the fish when 2 cm long? Pterogoplichthys have quite interesting youth dresses.

[SuperSic]

Unfortunately no, though when they were 2cm long they were just really dark, basically black.