What pleco is this?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Rafini

Rafini

Piranha
MFK Member
Jun 28, 2012
1,930
178
81
Calgary, Canada
Sold to me as a Trinidad Pleco, at 1" and barely visible. I've had it around 3 weeks and hes already grown to just over 2.5" because of all the algae in the tank (and fungus from a new piece of manzanita wood I put in there)

I can't find any pics of a trinidad pleco on the net and apparently there are multiple species from Trinidad including the common pleco.

My one has a blueish tinge to it, orange on its pectoral fins, as well as having one or two large dots on the pectoral fins, as apposed to say lots of small ones like a common pleco.
is this a 'Trinidad Pleco' if so can anyone show me a pic of an adult?

snYnr9Q.jpg

gmhUKM2.jpg
 
Well I've kept common plecos for years and never had one like this. Plus I got it from a reputable place as 'Trinidad pleco' the commons and sailfins at the same place did not look like the ones in the Trinidad tank.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
 
looks like a very skinny common pleco, or one of the commons.
 
Rafini said:
Well I've kept common plecos for years and never had one like this. Plus I got it from a reputable place as 'Trinidad pleco' the commons and sailfins at the same place did not look like the ones in the Trinidad tank.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
Click to expand...
There are 3 types of plecos that are sold as commons.

1) The original common is a Hypostomus plecostomus... the only true 'pleco'

They are a brownish, olive green color. Sometimes with stripes or spots that fade depending on stress.

http://www.planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?species_id=580


The next two are very similar and the only way to tell them apart is their pattern on their belly

2)Pterygoplichthys Disjunctivus has gray/black and white marking with a stripe pattern on their belly.

http://www.planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?species_id=703

3) Pterygoplichthys pardalis also has gray/black and white marking with spots on their belly. This is what you have. I often see these being called trinidad pleco

http://www.planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?species_id=88

But in the end...they are common plecos
 
"trinidad pleco" is a common name, anyone calling anything they like a "Trinidad pleco". No loricariids are native to Trinidad so the name is really meaningless, and most likely just invented to get uninformed people to pay a few bucks more for a common pleco.
 
It common, it must be eating good with a 2" tard hanging from it butt.
 
It was cheaper than commons actually I just picked it cause it looked interesting and I'm thinking of getting into plecos!
Yeah I thought it would be one of the common species I was after a specific scientific name so thanks a lot guys!

And yes he eats like mad! Can't wait to get some more plecos! My old common was at least 15" but he sadly passed away months ago
Sent from my Nexus 4 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom