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I have a small, around 3? long, jet black Bristlenosed Pleco. The armored scales are somewhat distinct and it has a very white tip at the top of its tail fin. I hardly ever see it as it hides in the shadows of caves or driftwood all day. It will only come out at night, or if I?m having a bad green water algae bloom, which cuts the light. Peas can also occasionally lure it out.

Someone offered me a female with the same coloration. We?re unsure if they?re the same species or not. I cannot seem to find any specifics online. All I have learned is there are a LOT of hybrids out there.

This is the only photo I have so far. It?s a tough one to try and capture an image of?

Darter,

I'm not aware of any Ancistrus (bushy/bristlenose) that is completely without spots aside from , which should be pretty easy to identify (it's flatter and have a very wide head - there's a spotted version as well, .

I suggest that you catch the fish, put it in a white or clear (on white/light surfcace) bowl on a white surface of some sort (cleaned out ice-cream tubs or similar are great).

Ideally, we'd like to see a picture of the fish with it's dorsal (back) fin clearly visible from the side, as well as the outline from above.

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Mats

OK, I will try that, if I can catch it that is...

I'll also photograph the new one before I put her in the tank.

So far, I cannot catch this little guy. He has some good areas to hide, where I can SEE him, I just can?t catch him without really scaring a lot of the fish and mucking up my plants.

I can tell you this though, his head is very wide. His bristles are smallish and only along the front lips, not up on the head. His tail has white tips on BOTH the top and bottom tips. The top of the back fin is closer to the body than the bottom tip and has a slight arch to it in between. The dorsal fin is not overly large or sail like.

The head shape along the bristle formation look like L034 Ancistrus Ranunculus as Mat said...

Cool beans, now I know the male I had is a "Medusa Pleco."

A freind gave me a female pleco she suggested may be the same species but I am not sure. Her size is correct, she has the similar fins and the two white tips on the tail. Her head is not as wide/triangular though. Her mouth seems more "rubbery" as well (and of course, no bristles).

Any idea what she may be?

That is definitely not a (nor is it L255).

What size is this fish? It looks similar to a , but there are plenty of other species that are pretty close to that.

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Mats

It is roughly 3.5" to 4" long or so. The male fish is about the same length.

I found this photo on the link you provided.

This does look a LOT like her!