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i bought this pleco a few weeks ago and after doing some more research on it it is not what i was told and i have not found anything close to it any ideas thanks

I'd say . I'm afraid I can't say exactly why though.

What was it sold as?

it was sold a a zebra
i have some other pics if that would help

Well it's clearly not . That much is clear.

I hope you didn't pay zebra prices!

no i didnt pay alot for it $25.00... i like the little guy just would like to know what he is.

Well, you'd be very lucky to get a real zebra at that price. They're usually hundreds of dollars.

It also looks like in your second and third pictures. Nice fish. A good breeding project if you can find some more.

Care-wise, they are much like any other . Keep the water warm (>80F) and well oxygenated, and feed meaty foods with the odd bit of veg.

the price is what got me look at what it was after i had bought it. so far that is the only one that i can find. how do you sex them?

Males are generally "hairier" and have thicker pectoral fin spines. They also vary in body proportions from females (which tend to be fatter round the middle), but that can be quite subtle unless you know exactly what you are looking for.

I'd say yours is a male.

For more info, search the forum for "sexing hypancistrus".

ok. thank you for all your help i will keep doing research in the breeds that you gave me and hopefully i can fiqure out what he is. thanks again

could it also be a Hypancistrus sp. (L333)?

I was thinking a L199 since you said it was a "zebra" That would be my guess.

well the store that i bought him at had it as a "zebra pleco" i thought that he was way to yellow to be a zebra thats what got me looking in to it i have bout a few fish from their and have noticed that they have the wrong names up on some of their stock

dean_cunn88 wrote:could it also be a Hypancistrus sp. (L333)

Yes perhaps, but to me are quite stocky and high bodied. Your fish is flatter, and more slender.

in2plecos wrote:I was thinking a L199

The colour looks off for (L199), and the stripes are not nearly as regular, plus the head is too elongated and flattened for that species, if you ask me.

I think is sometimes sold as "Chocolate/Columbian zebra pleco", which is a bit of clever marketing, as it's nothing like the .

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Mats