pleco id if possible

[vespasian]

I was in my lfs today and they had a small loricariidae that was black with medium white spots (around the size of an l081's spots). It was labled as a sargent pleco but had no L number. It will be hard to id with no picture but does anyone have any guesses as to what it might be. Thanks.

[jdt28]

Are you sure it wasn't labelled Inspector pleco L102

[racoll]

Hypancistrus sp(l201)

is the most commonly imported black-with-white-spots pleco.

You can also find

Baryancistrus sp(l142)

and

Hypancistrus contradens

regularly too.

Hypancistrus inspector

is the name often incorrectly given to L201 and H. contradens; it is sometimes available, but is much more rare.

[vespasian]

Thanks for the replys.
The pleco was definitely labelled sargent pleco.
The nearest of your suggestions is L142 but the spots were much smaller, not small enough to be called speckles though.

[racoll]

The pleco was definitely labelled sargent pleco.

Never heard that name before.

I'd say the fish has an 80% chance of being

L201

, but if you want to be sure you'd need to post some decent pictures of the fish. Try to get shot of its mouth and some from the side too.

Don't rely on spot size to give you too many clues. This changes as the fish grows, and there is also a degree of natural variability with these species too.

[vespasian]

I had never heard the name before either, that is what had me wondering what it was. I should have taken a pic when I was there but the thought didn't occur to me till later. I will get a pic next time I am there (if the pleco is still there). I would have considered buying it but without knowing what it was, water conditions and feeding could have been a bit hit and miss.
Anyway, thanks for the help and suggestios.

[Richard B]

A pic would be really useful

What appears on a google search for Sargent pleco/Sergeant etc is negligible - never heard of it either