L18 or L177 ?
L18 or L177 ?
This fish is 6-7cm.I'm not sure it's L18 or L177 .Give me your advise.Thanks!
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I think it is a young L-18/L-85.
Of the fish I have had, the spots were about that size and sometimes even larger. I have one that is about 5 cm right now and has very big spots - though I am almost sure that it is an L-018/L-085.
When young, the spots tend to be larger as they are in many other plecos and as they get older and larger the spots get smaller in addition to the fish getting bigger.
The L-177s I have had have perished very quickly as my water is quite hard and alkaline (ph 7.8 - gh 10-12). It appears that the L-177 comes from the Rio Iriri which is higher up then the L-018/L-085 and L-081 which would dictate more acidic and soft water (as it is closer to the source).
From what I have read the effect of ammonia, nitrite and nitrate is highly increased with a higher PH (10X for every degree ph) - this would lead to the problems with the L-177.
All the L-177s I have had have had larger spots then the one in the picture.
L-018/L-085 as a young fish has spots corresponding with your fish and IME a bit easier to keep as it will tolerate broader watercondition being from downstream in the Rio Xingu a distance away from where the Rio Iriri flows into it.
The yellow colouration on the finedges has been variable on the ones I have had though sometimes the frayed fins from transport make it look like there is less of a yellow seam, this often heals and grows back out as the fish settles down.
The L-081 has distinclty smaller spots, more like salt grains.
I have also had one which shifted into more orange color while looking somewhere between the L-018/L-085 and L-081. Unfortunatly it clawled out of the tank one night
As I would guess there being some color and pattern variation it is very hard to differentiate the fish not knowing the collection local. I don't know of any scientific way to easily tell them apart.
So if someone knows a surefire way - I would love to hear it.
Finally - I think they are one of the most beautiful plecos which is why I have gotten several of them eventhough I had poor success early. Getting a lot of extra water when you purchase them has been a key to success. Slow acclimation, a bit of salt, stresszyme and waterconditioner has also helped.
They can be quite territorrial and do some damage. For food they need driftwood and love zuccini.
Raised temperaure (84 F) will ensure more activity, higher metabolism, healthier appetite and good growth.
The gold nuggets seem to be one of the first fish affeccted by degrading tankconditions and water and when it happens they will swim up and down the tank glass often parking it at the surface - time for waterchange.
Of the fish I have had, the spots were about that size and sometimes even larger. I have one that is about 5 cm right now and has very big spots - though I am almost sure that it is an L-018/L-085.
When young, the spots tend to be larger as they are in many other plecos and as they get older and larger the spots get smaller in addition to the fish getting bigger.
The L-177s I have had have perished very quickly as my water is quite hard and alkaline (ph 7.8 - gh 10-12). It appears that the L-177 comes from the Rio Iriri which is higher up then the L-018/L-085 and L-081 which would dictate more acidic and soft water (as it is closer to the source).
From what I have read the effect of ammonia, nitrite and nitrate is highly increased with a higher PH (10X for every degree ph) - this would lead to the problems with the L-177.
All the L-177s I have had have had larger spots then the one in the picture.
L-018/L-085 as a young fish has spots corresponding with your fish and IME a bit easier to keep as it will tolerate broader watercondition being from downstream in the Rio Xingu a distance away from where the Rio Iriri flows into it.
The yellow colouration on the finedges has been variable on the ones I have had though sometimes the frayed fins from transport make it look like there is less of a yellow seam, this often heals and grows back out as the fish settles down.
The L-081 has distinclty smaller spots, more like salt grains.
I have also had one which shifted into more orange color while looking somewhere between the L-018/L-085 and L-081. Unfortunatly it clawled out of the tank one night
As I would guess there being some color and pattern variation it is very hard to differentiate the fish not knowing the collection local. I don't know of any scientific way to easily tell them apart.
So if someone knows a surefire way - I would love to hear it.
Finally - I think they are one of the most beautiful plecos which is why I have gotten several of them eventhough I had poor success early. Getting a lot of extra water when you purchase them has been a key to success. Slow acclimation, a bit of salt, stresszyme and waterconditioner has also helped.
They can be quite territorrial and do some damage. For food they need driftwood and love zuccini.
Raised temperaure (84 F) will ensure more activity, higher metabolism, healthier appetite and good growth.
The gold nuggets seem to be one of the first fish affeccted by degrading tankconditions and water and when it happens they will swim up and down the tank glass often parking it at the surface - time for waterchange.