Need help identifying this pleco.

[gizmo 7-7]

I bought this pleco a few weeks ago. They sold it to me as a Tiger pleco. I am pretty sure it is not. To me, it looks like a butterfly L168. Does anybody know which pleco this is?

 

[StickyOto]

A striped plecostomus I think this is your fish.

 

[savage]

That is such a cool looking fish!

 

[gizmo 7-7]

A striped plecostomus I think this is your fish.

Thanks for the input, but I don't think it is the striped pleco L199. The stripes looks different to me. Thanks though.

 

[gizmo 7-7]

That is such a cool looking fish!

Thanks. Hopefully we can figure out which pleco this is.

 

[toddnbecka]

Patterns on juvies are usually completely different than adults. Best bet for a definite ID is to get some pics of the mouth and teeth (pleco on front glass) if possible.

 

[Maltimomma]

Patterns on juvies are usually completely different than adults. Best bet for a definite ID is to get some pics of the mouth and teeth (pleco on front glass) if possible.

Beautiful pleco. Looks like a L168 to me. I would love to find them here because I want one.

 

[Maltimomma]

I looked for a L168 online and they sell for around $80. A little out of my league. It also said they are difficult to breed. Do you agree Todd?

 

[toddnbecka]

I looked for a L168 online and they sell for around $80. A little out of my league. It also said they are difficult to breed. Do you agree Todd?

Difficult to breed means they're wild-caught imports, and most likely not a commonly (or maybe easily) collected species. That price does seem a bit high for a random species of pleco. You may find a better price on aquabid, or try contacting some of the importer/sellers there.
There is a current auction for L-340 F1 juvies that haven't been bid up too much yet. Same seller I got my L-333's from a couple years ago, he will likely have more available after the auction ends.

 

[gizmo 7-7]

Patterns on juvies are usually completely different than adults. Best bet for a definite ID is to get some pics of the mouth and teeth (pleco on front glass) if possible.

Thanks, I'll try to get a pic on the glass, but he is usually on the gravel and wood. Thanks for the help.

 

[gizmo 7-7]

I looked for a L168 online and they sell for around $80. A little out of my league. It also said they are difficult to breed. Do you agree Todd?

Yeah I think I got lucky. I got it for $30. The store thought it was a Tiger Pleco, I knew it wasn't so I just bought it. Haha.

 

[toddnbecka]

Quite likely that's what they received it as, may have been alone or part of a larger group. Good deal for $30, particularly from an lfs.

 

[toddnbecka]

Might be an L-52 butterfly pleco, they also look like that and the price is about right.