Cannot find a match online anywhere! Any clue what species this guy is?

[newplecomama]

About 5 inches long. Notice subtle stripes, teardrop eye, stripes on tail and fins. Any ideas?

[newplecomama]

Also, don’t worry- the bowl is just for a few hours until its 50 gallon tank is ready. Additional pic:

[Dave Rinaldo]

Looks to be a juvenile

Pterygoplichthys pardalis

[bekateen]

LOL, from the title of this thread, I expected it would be a spam link to a dating site!

Cannot find a match online?

Glad it wasn't that.

Cheers, Eric

[newplecomama]

LOL, from the title of this thread, I expected it would be a spam link to a dating site!

Cannot find a match online?

Glad it wasn't that.

Cheers, Eric

Oops, that wording was... hilariously unfortunate.

Best

[newplecomama]

Looks to be a juvenile

Pterygoplichthys pardalis

I was thinking that as well but the stripes on the fins are throwing me off. Seems likely though. Thanks!

[bekateen]

I was thinking that as well but the stripes on the fins are throwing me off. Seems likely though. Thanks!

Very observant. Those "stripes" you're describing are actually normal stress coloration in lots of plecos. Most people don't regard them as stripes per se, but rather as saddle-shaped color patterns, as if the pleco had 3-5 white saddles wrapped over its back.

Cheers, Eric

[newplecomama]

I was thinking that as well but the stripes on the fins are throwing me off. Seems likely though. Thanks!

Very observant. Those "stripes" you're describing are actually normal stress coloration in lots of plecos. Most people don't regard them as stripes per se, but rather as saddle-shaped color patterns, as if the pleco had 3-5 white saddles wrapped over its back.

Cheers, Eric

That’s so informative and great for me to know as a new owner! That info hasn’t come up in all the literature I’ve read, which is kind of sad. I’m transferring the little one to a bigger tank, so it makes total sense that it may be a tad bit stressed.

Thanks for the help Eric!