Help identifying L397 please

[Trianglekicker]

Hello, I have been keepin groups of ancistrus and hypancistrus and am really enjoying them. I went to a fish store and saw a tank labelled with L397 for sale. I purchased two to see the quality of the fish before committing to a full group. In the fish store the lights were a bit dim. Noticed when I aclimated them that the two have a different color hue. One is more yellow overall compared to the other.

Are both L397? I took a few pictures from my quarantine tank and appreciate your insight.

Thanks

[bekateen]

Hi Trianglekicker.

Neither of these is L397. Take a look at the lines on the faces of your fish and compare them to this photo: https://www.planetcatfish.com/common/im ... e_id=11545

They may be

L169

or

L271

? For a moment, I was also considering

Panaqolus tankei

, but I can't say for sure on any of these.

Your fish appear to be adults. The largest is definitely male, the smaller fish appears to be male also, but unfortunately the positioning of the fish in the two photos in the bucket or tank (whichever they are in) do no give a clear image.

Also I would add that the smaller fish appears to have slightly sunken eyes. Is that so? If so, it needs some tender loving care to get in better shape:

Even so, pretty fish. And although they aren't L397, they are nice. If you plan to make a breeding group, go back to the store and look for a large fat adult without odontodes. That will more than likely be a female.

Cheers, Eric

[Trianglekicker]

Hi Bekateen,

Appreciate the quick identification. I am also doubting and one indeed appears to look more like a L271 or a Tankei. Will reach out to the store because I do not want to mix these fish with different subspecies.

Cheers