Albino Plec ???

phantomfisher

phantomfisher

Member
Oct 20, 2009
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0
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Bournemouth
I have three of these Plecs that were sold to me (mail order) as albino's but I am not sure which species or even if they are in fact albino's.

I have had the fish in my tank for about a week and hardly ever see them. The following shots were taken when I caught one under a leaf while the lights were on. I managed to get two clicks of my camera before it disappeared into a bog wood cave.

They are not the clearest of pictures but if anybody could identify the species of Plec it would be a big help





The other thing I meant to mention is that they do not appear to have red eyes (I thought all albinos had red eyes!).
 
W

Warborg

Member
Oct 17, 2009
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Austin,Texas
Doodles said:
:hi:

Id bet they are pterygoplichthys, the best way to check is to count the rays in the dorsal fin(top fin), if its 10 or more, then they are pterygoplichthys.

Heres a pic of a juvie albino pardalis

http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/image.php?species=pterygoplichthys+pardalis&image_id=7801
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Doodles is correct that they are pterygoplichthys and that they are pardalis. However they are not real albinos. They are called albino chocolates to make people think they are albinos. In the 90's they were called red eye red plecos(Some lack the red eye) but someone figured the could sell them at a higher price being called albinos.

Even though they are classed with a common pleco. They seem different to me. They hide more then a common and seem to stay smaller too. The biggest one I even got was 13inches TL VS. 2 @ 17inches for a common pardalis.
 
phantomfisher

phantomfisher

Member
Oct 20, 2009
8
0
1
Bournemouth
Thanks for the quick ID guys, much appreciated :clap:

What is the best sort of food for this particular species? Also are they likely to mess up my planted tank? I have three of these fish, will they get on together and are they likely to bully my Otocinlus and small Whip tail cats?:dk:
 
D

Doodles

Retired Staff
Apr 8, 2009
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What is the best sort of food for this particular species?
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They are omnivores, so a mix of veggies and wafers plus occasional meaty foods

Also are they likely to mess up my planted tank?
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Yep, not intentionally but they grow pretty quick and can be quite clumsy when older

I have three of these fish, will they get on together
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whilst they are small, but will be territorial when adults especially if the tank isnt big enough. I have one common plec in a 262L tank and he needs an upgrade.

are they likely to bully my Otocinlus and small Whip tail cats?
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No, they don'y usually bother about other types of fish.
 
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