White Spotted Pleco ID

[MissNoodle]

bought this guy off a local seller. What species? Listed as a snowball, but seller says over a year old has not grown past the size he or she is.

[bekateen]

Hi Miss Noodle,

Based on the bony spur on the head, I suspect you have either one of the Hypancistrus similar to

Hypancistrus inspector

or

L102

(based on the blackened edges on the fins; our CLOG lumps inspector and L102 together, but I believe they are considered different these days) or one of the galaxy plecos in the genus Leporacanthicus. Perhaps

Leporacanthicus cf_galaxias(l007)

, but there are several variants to consider. I'm glad you provided the photo of the mouth, but when I attempt to zoom in on the photo, I cannot discern the detail of the front teeth. Are they long curving fangs? If so then definitely a Leporacanthicus form. The other genus to consider is one of the

Baryancistrus

. These will have a membrane connecting part of the back bottom edge of the dorsal to the body.

Yours looks young, so I suspect the spot size will change with age.

Cheers, Eric

[MissNoodle]

I'll attempt a new photo of the mouth for you, give me a moment

[MissNoodle]

Hi Miss Noodle,

Based on the bony spur on the head, I suspect you have either one of the Hypancistrus similar to

Hypancistrus inspector

or

L102

(based on the blackened edges on the fins; our CLOG lumps inspector and L102 together, but I believe they are considered different these days) or one of the galaxy plecos in the genus Leporacanthicus. Perhaps

Leporacanthicus cf_galaxias(l007)

, but there are several variants to consider. I'm glad you provided the photo of the mouth, but when I attempt to zoom in on the photo, I cannot discern the detail of the front teeth. Are they long curving fangs? If so then definitely a Leporacanthicus form. The other genus to consider is one of the

Baryancistrus

. These will have a membrane connecting part of the back bottom edge of the dorsal to the body.

Yours looks young, so I suspect the spot size will change with age.

Cheers, Eric

Hes got a couple little fangs in there!

No membrane on the dorsal rear, also the tail is not forked like the first two you mentioned, more squared off and angled.

But at over a year old, shouldnt he be larger than 2-3 inches? He is very small, they had him for over a year

[MissNoodle]

Thoughts?

https://www.planetcatfish.com/common/sp ... es_id=5743

Apparently this was where he was purchased
https://www.shrimpfever.com/shop/fish/l ... rus-pleco/

[bekateen]

Your front teeth... erm, your fish's front teeth... are fangs. Leporacanthicus, again maybe

Leporacanthicus cf_galaxias(l007)

. Not any

Hypancistrus

, not

Baryancistrus

.

Cheers, Eric

[bekateen]

Thoughts?

https://www.planetcatfish.com/common/sp ... es_id=5743

Apparently this was where he was purchased
https://www.shrimpfever.com/shop/fish/l ... rus-pleco/

Definitely not

L471

. Also, on that web page at Shrimpfever, they have a photo of

L201

for the L471.

The teeth are the giveaway.

Frankly, you got a better deal, as Leporacanthicus are usually more expensive than L201 (L471 might cost the same, but your fish isn't that.)

Cheers, Eric

[MissNoodle]

Thoughts?

https://www.planetcatfish.com/common/sp ... es_id=5743

Apparently this was where he was purchased
https://www.shrimpfever.com/shop/fish/l ... rus-pleco/

Definitely not

L471

. Also, on that web page at Shrimpfever, they have a photo of

L201

for the L471.

The teeth are the giveaway.

Frankly, you got a better deal, as Leporacanthicus are usually more expensive than L201 (L471 might cost the same, but your fish isn't that.)

Cheers, Eric

I only paid $10 CAD as it was from another fishkeeper, not a store. They were getting out of the hobby.

So given the teeth, what would you say it is?

[bekateen]

I only paid $10 CAD as it was from another fishkeeper, not a store. They were getting out of the hobby.

So given the teeth, what would you say it is?

$10CAD? Holy cow, that's great. Given the teeth, I'm confident it's Leporacanthicus, but I'm insecure as to which. The species I mentioned (

Leporacanthicus cf_galaxias(l007)

) is a good match based on spot size, but as I also said, spot size may change with age and size, so I could be wrong.

Cheers, Eric

[MissNoodle]

I only paid $10 CAD as it was from another fishkeeper, not a store. They were getting out of the hobby.

So given the teeth, what would you say it is?

$10CAD? Holy cow, that's great. Given the teeth, I'm confident it's Leporacanthicus, but I'm insecure as to which. The species I mentioned (

Leporacanthicus cf_galaxias(l007)

) is a good match based on spot size, but as I also said, spot size may change with age and size, so I could be wrong.

Cheers, Eric

It is at least over 1 year old but still only about 76 mm (3 inches including tail)

So are we 100% certain as the one you list gets 9 inches!!

[bekateen]

About that size, yes. Some forms get slightly smaller at 9.5", some get 12".

But no Leporacanthicus stop growing at 3".

[MissNoodle]

Oh boy, new tank planning haha

How long do they take to grow?

I placed him in my 46g blackwater tank, but the flow is baffled for the dwarf gourami pair in there, but figured it would be better in there than with my bristlenose pleco in my 55...

Could he be housed with a bristlenose pleco male or would they fight?

[bekateen]

I don't know. Never kept these.

[MissNoodle]

I may have to adjust around some tank set ups, but thank you! Hes really beautiful and my son likes him a lot. I'll probably be looking at a tank upgrade in the future, so I'll keep an eye how he grows

[bekateen]

It likes to eat shrimp. You might also try snails for food.

Eric

[MissNoodle]

It likes to eat shrimp. You might also try snails for food.

Eric

Oh good, I've got shrimp and assassin snails in the same tank hahahahaha

Ive got northfin carnivore pellets, shrimp pellets, and i also feed cooked shrimp and whitefish as a treat already, plus frozen brine/mysis shrimp and bloodworms already in my feeding regime for my carnivore fish.

Veggies and wafers for my vegetarians.


Currently tankmates are 2 Farlowella cats, corydoras, pangio loaches, a dwarf gourami pair, and black neon tetras. Plus bamboo shrimp, a ghost shrimp, and assassin snails.

[bekateen]

Your ghost shrimp might become just that...

[MissNoodle]

Your ghost shrimp might become just that...

If he can catch her lol she's an old, old soul. For a ghost shrimp. She's 2 years old, my last surviving ghost. I can move her to another tank, but I do have bamboos too...

[MissNoodle]

though what would the recommended tank size be for an adult of this pleco? It gets a little large for what I anticipated haha

But gives me an excuse for another tank once he grows more

[Jools]

Would say this is

L240

due to the darker black edges on the fins.

Jools

[MissNoodle]

Would say this is

L240

due to the darker black edges on the fins.

Jools

I was juuuuust coming to ask about that as I read about that while skimming the family. Spots look good for a young one too.

Awesome!

[MissNoodle]

Would say this is

L240

due to the darker black edges on the fins.

Jools

Alright so further questions.

Both tanks ive currently got able to accommodate his growing size, ive got corydoras and hoplosternum, would he be compatible with these species?

I plan on moving him to my 55 as it is larger and has more current, and will move my BN pleco to the 46 instead

[naturalart]

How long do they take to grow?

I kept one for 7yrs. Bought it at 2 inches, sold it at 3.5 inches 7yrs. later. Slow growers in my experience.

[bekateen]

Would say this is

L240

due to the darker black edges on the fins.

I didn't realize there was a galaxy type with black fin seams. Obviously a group I'm not versed in.

Thanks Jools.

Eric

[MissNoodle]

He finally started eating for me today. He's turned his little nose up at shrimp, wafers, and shrimp pellets, but took a carnivore pellet on the second try

What size are you able to sex these guys, anyone know? I know he's small so not expecting to be able to tell easy or at all yet. But my "pleco experience" is with a bristlenose, so not well versed with plecos. And tbh bristlenose are kind of obvious to sex apart lol

[Acanthicus]

Hi

Agree with the ID given by Jools. You will be able to sex it with around 12 cm-15 cm.

[MissNoodle]

Hi

Agree with the ID given by Jools. You will be able to sex it with around 12 cm-15 cm.

Awesome! Thank you!

One more question. As a mature adult, can corydoras be kept as tankmates or would these count as an annoyance for bottom level territorial behavior?

[Jools]

Yes they can, have done it myself. If you want to get hyper "correct" then place a cave for the pleco to live in that doesn't face into the main feeding area but is in a shady area of strongest current. Pleco will creep out and feed in the feeding area at night or after several months of an unchanged tank. It will sit and eat at the food and allow the corys to crowd around.

You would not be the first person to aquascape an entire tank around a specimen fish that you don't see most of the time...

Jools

[MissNoodle]

Yes they can, have done it myself. If you want to get hyper "correct" then place a cave for the pleco to live in that doesn't face into the main feeding area but is in a shady area of strongest current. Pleco will creep out and feed in the feeding area at night or after several months of an unchanged tank. It will sit and eat at the food and allow the corys to crowd around.

You would not be the first person to aquascape an entire tank around a specimen fish that you don't see most of the time...

Jools

Alright awesome!
Next is to find a corydoras able to live in warmer water and be able to take a bit of a current

I will open a separate thread for that one

[MissNoodle]

Hes grown a little bit, hes about 12cm or 4 inches.
I'm noticing hes a little more spikey on his cheeks than the rest of his body, would this be an indicator that he may be male?
These were taken last night

This photo was taken several weeks ago