What kind of snowball is this?

Post by **Dinyar** » 26 Jan 2003, 18:08

Is this LDA 33?

Dinyar

YouTube · Post by **Jools** » 26 Jan 2003, 19:06

Impossible to say from the picture. Can you post pictures showing its fins erect, its underside and mouth as well.

Jools

Erwin · Post by **Erwin** » 22 Dec 2003, 19:35

HI,

a late answer, but I would say this fish is L 254, a Oligancistrus or Parancistrus from the middle reaches of Rio Xingu.

Erwin

Jorge · Post by **Jorge** » 23 Dec 2003, 12:39

I think it could be the same of this:

It was labeled at the LFS as a Parancistrus sp.

I really don't know

YouTube · Post by **Jools** » 23 Dec 2003, 12:45

I would agree, despite the fact I wasn't sure from the original photo. After Erwin's suggestion the first picture does look about right. I think the second picture is without doubt a <I>Parancistrus</I>/<I>Oligancistrus</I>.

Dinyar,

Did this pleco make it thru the great blackout? I don't think I have pictures of this l-number so would be useful if you (or indeed Jorge) would be able to supply?

Thanks,

Jools

Jorge · Post by **Jorge** » 23 Dec 2003, 12:57

Of course Jools, you can use it. I have no others pictures of this fish, it was taken at the LFS some time ago...

Is it a L-254, then?

YouTube · Post by **Jools** » 23 Dec 2003, 13:03

Jorge,

Yes, I think this is L254 although the fish tends to show a blueish tinge to the spots, you photo is taken in bright conditions and so shows white spots. I think this fish is essentially a "big spot" version of L030/L031.

Jools

Erwin · Post by **Erwin** » 23 Dec 2003, 13:49

Sorry to say so, but I think Jorge's picture shows a L30. Yes, there are differences between L30 and L31, they are different species and maybe even belong to different genera. Werner means L31 is a Parancistrus. I would agree with that, but then Parancistrus needs to be defined in a different way. At the moment Parancistrus (acc. to Rapp Py-Daniel) is defined as having a complete round snout (seeing from the top), in adults the belly is covered with plates. This can be seen pretty good in P. aurantiacus, and LDA46. But all the other species which look similiar, like L31, have a snout-siluette with a somewhat pointed tip (nose). And I have not seen any plates at their belly yet, but this might be because of the to small size of the fishes.

L30 and L31 can be differentiated by the smaller hight of the dorsal fin (in L31), the shorter and thicker pectoral fins (in L31) and a different kind of swimming. In a tank without a ground (glass-bottom) the L31 swimm with mouth and one pectoral connected to the ground, like they try to digg into the glass-bottom. L30 swimms just normal as any other loricariid catfish. L30 is also definitevely a Oligancistrus and not a Parancistrus.

I spend always some time in front of fishtanks with these guys, because I hope to find finally a L315, which I didn't see yet.

Best Wishes

Erwin

Post by **Dinyar** » 23 Dec 2003, 15:57

Jools,

Of course you're welcome to use the photo. Don't have the fish any longer. It succumbed early last summer to some gill flukes introduced by the big Trachelyopterus sp., but I'll check to see if we have any more photos tucked away somewhere.

Good yo see more of you here, Erwin, and to have the benefit of your expert opinion.

Dinyar