Unidentified wild caught pleco probably a Pterygoplichthys

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TheFredPit

Member
Aug 25, 2012
8
0
1
Arlington
A month ago I got a message from my LFS they got another unidentified pleco from their importer and they know I like the challenge of figure out what they are and so far of the 3 I've picked up I've identified 2 an L425 and L076. Well this 3rd one is stumping me it came to the store as a possible L437 but I've eliminated that. Here are the pics I got when I first got him

https://goo.gl/photos/gBU1JRacnRJWVnDm6

it's hard to see but the tips of his pectoral and dorsal fins have red tips.

In the last month the fish has grown about 2" here are the latest pics

https://photos.app.goo.gl/IY0N4NbLz9umEKBL2
 
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TheFredPit

Member
Aug 25, 2012
8
0
1
Arlington
I'm certain it's not P. Pardalis I've had several of them. I spoke with Dr. Armbruster of Auburn University who created this key for Identifying Pterygoplichthys
this key for Identifying Pterygoplichthys he said "It doesn’t seem to fit any of the described Pterygoplichthys well. Maybe P. Lituratus, but I don’t have a great familiarity with that one." Personally I do think it looks alot like P. Lituratus except for the red tips on it's fins but I don't know if maybe the young ones have that and lose it later in life.
 
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