Help ID my pleco please

[Hursty]

Hi everyone,

I hope someone can help me, I recently brought a “snowball†pleco, or at least that’s what I was sold it as, I know there is a lot of confusion and misidentification, so can someone please just confirm this for me or help to properly identify it, and sex it. I really don’t care either way, I think it’s a gorgeous fish whatever it is. Thanks in advance for your help.

Hursty

 

[L-ko]

Hi,

In fact, that's not easy with this picture. I once tried to restrict the selection a bit (Hypostominae: dark base color, bright spots, adipose present).

I think he looks the most likely to Baryancistrus sp. "L 142" / "LDA 33". I would not rule out an Scobinancistrus.

You can easily distinguish Baryancistrus and Scobinancistrus by the teeth of these plecos. Please look or take a picture of the mouth, so that you can see the teeth.

Greetings
Elko

 

[Hursty]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply, I have attached the best picture I can get, sadly the website won’t let me upload anything with great a detail. Hope this helps.

Hursty

 

[L-ko]

Hi,

Hursty sent me a better picture of the mouth.
It is not very clear, but I think this pleco must be a Scobinancistrus.
(definitely not a Baryancistrus)
Therefore, I think it´s a Scobinancistrus sp. "L 368".
Other black Scobinancistrus have smaler and/or more points.

Greetings
Elko

 

[Hursty]

Elko,

Thanks again for your help. I’ve had a look online and can’t find a great deal of information about these anywhere. I was wondering if you would be able to shed more light, such as, how fast they grow? When do they grow those gruesome teeth? And any other general information you may have.

Thank you

Hursty

 

[L-ko]

Hi,

I don´t have Information oh how fast they growing.
But in general, the plecos only grow properly when they have the right temperature.
If they are very too cold, they will wither away.
Young plecos grow fast, older slower.

They have these teeth just a few days after the birth. The teeth grow with the plecos.
Therefore, you can also use the teeth for determining the genus.
The teeth corespond to the diet - in case of Scobinancistrus: snails and shells.

Greetings
Elko