What L-number is this?

[Jjouck]

Dear experts

I’ve bought 3 L-numbers en they told me that these are L114 catfish, however I doubt this because it doesn’t compare with the L114 that I find on the internet. They are now 4cm and can become up to 8cm they’ve told me. Is there anyone who can tell me which L-number these fish are?

Thank you in advance!

Sincerely

A belgium plecofriend

[bekateen]

I’ve bought 3 L-numbers en they told me that these are L114 catfish, however I doubt this because it doesn’t compare with the L114 that I find on the internet. They are now 4cm and can become up to 8cm they’ve told me. Is there anyone who can tell me which L-number these fish are?

Hello Jjouck,

Welcome to PlanetCatfish!

I must confess, for me, your photographs are not clear enough (especially with the fish hiding) for me to positively ID your pleco. However, from what I can see, your fish are either

L448

or

Panaqolus maccus

. I've read elsewhere that true P. maccus are rarely imported anymore, so that most fish sold as P. maccus are in fact L448.

I keep plecos sold as P. maccus (although I presume they are L448) for several years. Although once I saw a single specimen in a pet store and that fish was about 8cm SL (body length excluding tail), my own fish have never gotten bigger than about 6cm SL. So if they can reach the larger size, they must grow the last couple of centimeters very slowly.

If you can get better photos of the fish, especially of the head and its color pattern, please post them and maybe we can get a better ID for you.

Cheers, Eric

P.S., If your fish really are L114 or anything related to it, your photos are NOT doing the fish justice. That said, I suspect your fish are P. maccus or L448, and if so, then I hope you did NOT pay the normal price for L114. L114 would be 5x or 10x more expensive than P. maccus/L448.
-Eric

[Acanthicus]

Agree with Eric, this is L 448.

[Jjouck]

Hey!

Thank you for your info!
I have bought these fish for a very little price (€15,00 in total). I made some more photos but they are very good at hiding!

Thank you in advance!

Greetings!

[Jjouck]

Now I have a nice picture!
See below!

[bekateen]

Yes, definitely

L448

, or what gets sold as

Panaqolus maccus

.

Cheers, Eric