What is my Pleco? L397?

[Roger Cha]

Hi everyone.
Can you help me identify my plecos? I bought them about a year ago at my LFS and were simply named "Red Pekoltias". However, after some looking around they seem very similar to the L397.
Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

[bekateen]

Hi Roger Cha,

They are certainly a type of Panaqolus, and they do look like L397, but I can't be sure from that one photo because there are a couple of L numbers which look similar.

Beautiful fish! Congratulations on getting them.

Cheers, Eric

[Roger Cha]

Hi Eric, thank so much for the help.
I have found they eat absolutely every plant I put in their tank, even Anubias, Java Fern and Hornworth.
Assuming they are L397, would it be OK to keep them in the same tank with a group of 6 L046 (3 adults & 3 juvies) and some corys?

[bekateen]

I don't know they would. My L397 are very active feeders and might dominate the zebras. Maybe others have more experience with mixing the two than I. Hopefully someone else will have an opinion.

Good luck, Eric

[Jools]

I wouldn't mix them, one is a species for a high debris/wood-based organic set-up, the other is for a rocks only set-up if you wish to keep them optimally.

Jools