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Hi, I'm going to buy a green phantom pleco, and I know that there are 2 different species of the L200. I'm just checking that I'm right in thinking that the Baryancistrus demantoides is the hi fin green phantom pleco, and the Hemiancistrus subviridis is the normal finned one?

I'd also like to know if there will be any dominance/aggression issues with the L200 and my Ancistrus sp.(4)? I have 7 of the ancistrus, (6 males and 1 female) and the biggest is 10cm, and the smallest 7.5cm. I only intend to keep a pair of the ancistrus once they are all fully grown; I bought 7 young ones hoping to get a good mix of males to females... which didn't work out.

I've read that the dorsal fin and the adipose fin are connected in the Baryancistrus, does that mean that they are fused, or that they meet at the base? And are there any other ways of distinguishing between the 2 species?

I only intended to ask 1 question, but I've ended up waffling for ages lol.

Yes, the "L200 hi-fin" is

The fin "joining" is the easiest way to tell them apart. But in most shops, all you ever find is H. subviridis. Sure, sometimes they are mixed together, but most exporters get more money for B. demantoides, so they sort them accordingly.

Here's the fin join difference:
B. demantoides (joined):


H. subviridis (not joined)


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Mats

Thanks:)

I've rung around, and it looks like I'll have to pay about £60 for a Hi fin one, so I'm going to get one of the normal fin ones instead for about £30.

Any ideas about if there will be any aggression issues?

I had a large Ancistrus with mine, and the Ancsitrus held its own against the that I had. I ended up moving the Ancistrus out as it kept hogging the cave that I wanted the L128 to stay in...

Have you tried Pier Aquatics for B. demantoides? They had them some time back for about £35 (from memory, this is not an quote). May also want to check with Rare Aquatics, as they often have unusual species in stock.

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Mats