Please help me identify this 7.8" Pleco ID

[smathys84]

Hi guys, today I got this almost 8" Pleco. The woman who had him for a of couple of years told me she bought him as L18. I know that's not the case, so I was hoping you may have an idea.

the color is brownish/greenish and the dots are bright brown/yellowish. Like I said, he's about 7.8".

I payed 90$. Do you think I overpayed? I really like the colors so wouldn't mind, but I would like to know.




thanks

[Martin S]

It would be helpful to see a photo of the fish in the water as well, and if possible the underside against the glass to see the mouth shape?

[smathys84]

Damn, he is already in the 180. I guess I have to catch him. This is gonna take some time.

[smathys84]

Not ideal, but better than the first ones. The longer I look at the picture, the more i think to myself...Could it be a "ugly" L200? I mean if I compare it to my l200, the dots are the same, but it has a lot more grey in it. What do you think? For comparising, my L200.






And here is my L200

[JDenman]

Looks like Hypostomus Margaritifer but as Martin said a shot of the mouth on the glass would help with ID.

[Jools]

Looks like a species of

Hemiancistrus

, I think this is

L128

, it is not a species of

Hypostomus

.

Jools

[smathys84]

Jools, I think you are right. I didn't think of the the l128, since I only knew them a lot darker and like the name, more blueish. This one is an olive green. I checked the pictures on the database and some of the pictures look very similar.

[racoll]

I think I can spy a membrane connecting to the body at the posterior of the dorsal fin, which would make it a

Baryancistrus

. Probably an odd looking

Baryancistrus demantoides

.

[smathys84]

There is definitely a membrane /. If it really is a Hifin, then like you sair, a really odd liking one.

I finally cought him on the glass (mid-movement). I hope this helps.

[Jobro]

I thought, there are cases of hemiancistrus showing the membrane, too?

Also, I can count 5 soft rays in the dorsal... How does this fit in either Baryancistrus or Hemiancistrus? The first soft ray looks quite strange, maybe it lost part of its dorsal once and this is what remained?
Considering this, I would refrain from making lots of conclusiones judging by the dorsal fin.

The mouth picture turned out a bit unlucky, maybe the author can get a better one soon?