The "Common" Pleco - Aquarium Advice

Yeti · 05-01-2007, 04:46 PM

okay so Ive been told that the pleco I have is a "common" pleco.. but when I look up common pleco in google or whatever, it comes up with a bunch of diff species.. so.. which is it? i dont believe he/she is a sailfin, or a rubbernose or any of that.. its just blackish brown with brown spots.. not yellow like the gold nugget..

thanks!
I havent been able to snap a good shot yet but here's the best I have so far:

DepotFish · 05-01-2007, 06:54 PM

Hypostomus plecostomus

plecoperson · 05-01-2007, 07:49 PM

Probably a liposarcus pardalis-does he look like this?

This is Fred, my guy-he's about 13 inches long now. They get to at least 18" and need a gi-normous tank at that size.

Yeti · 05-01-2007, 11:50 PM

no nothing close.. more like:

hes on the right smashed in there

tropicfishman · 05-02-2007, 12:32 AM

its a common

Wizzard~Of~Ozz · 05-02-2007, 07:50 AM

I'ld need a pic with the dorsal up.. The way the colour is shifting is consistent with a Sailfin, however that is not exclusive to the gibbiceps.

This is mine (Gibbiceps).. Also note the tail. The top and bottom extend further.

plecoperson · 05-02-2007, 08:28 AM

Yes, you need a pic of him with his top fin extended; count the "spines" on the dorsal fin.

I can't tell any more from the second pic than from the first. Are you saying he's "not even close" because of the color pattern? That can vary widely from fish to fish.

Whether gibby or L. pardalis, he'll get big!

PS-Your tetra and Molly look like they're trying to help ID him in that second pic. Are they counting rays?

Yeti · 05-02-2007, 09:24 AM

yeah thats the problem this guy never swims around he moves to one place and stays nearly all day...

kickeralpine · 05-02-2007, 09:38 AM

mine hides all day and is very lazy in his old age well maybe hes like his owner lol

Jarred Darque · 05-02-2007, 02:22 PM

if you need to manually extend the dorsal to take a pic, I have seen my common with striation like that at times, and he often changes from brown to black.

05-01-2007, 04:46 PM	#1
Yeti Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Ellsworth AFB,SD Posts: 201	The "Common" Pleco okay so Ive been told that the pleco I have is a "common" pleco.. but when I look up common pleco in google or whatever, it comes up with a bunch of diff species.. so.. which is it? i dont believe he/she is a sailfin, or a rubbernose or any of that.. its just blackish brown with brown spots.. not yellow like the gold nugget.. thanks! I havent been able to snap a good shot yet but here's the best I have so far: __________________ My 55gal Aquarium Journal

05-01-2007, 06:54 PM	#2
DepotFish Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 871 Images: 4	Hypostomus plecostomus __________________ Anybody who's seen the personality of fish has had their minds and hearts opened to a whole new world.

05-01-2007, 07:49 PM	#3
plecoperson Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Evanston, Illinois Posts: 1,161 Images: 3	Probably a liposarcus pardalis-does he look like this? This is Fred, my guy-he's about 13 inches long now. They get to at least 18" and need a gi-normous tank at that size. __________________ -Lisa Remember that Darwin was mostly right!

05-01-2007, 11:50 PM	#4
Yeti Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Ellsworth AFB,SD Posts: 201	no nothing close.. more like: hes on the right smashed in there __________________ My 55gal Aquarium Journal

05-02-2007, 12:32 AM	#5
tropicfishman Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ashland KY Posts: 1,890	its a common __________________ I love my clown loaches and red tail shark!!! lol

05-02-2007, 07:50 AM	#6
Wizzard~Of~Ozz Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,015 Images: 2	I'ld need a pic with the dorsal up.. The way the colour is shifting is consistent with a Sailfin, however that is not exclusive to the gibbiceps. This is mine (Gibbiceps).. Also note the tail. The top and bottom extend further. __________________ 120 Gal SW, 150lbs Prem. Fiji, 23Gal Sump, 2x250w 15K MH, 4x65w Actinic 3 x Halichoeres Chrysus (1 surfed), 3 x Nemateleotris magnifica, 1 x Centropyge bicolor, 11 x Scarlet Hermits, 6 x Zebra Hermits, 40 x Astrea Snails, 6 x Nassarius Snails, 3 x Cerith Snails

05-02-2007, 08:28 AM	#7
plecoperson Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Evanston, Illinois Posts: 1,161 Images: 3	Yes, you need a pic of him with his top fin extended; count the "spines" on the dorsal fin. I can't tell any more from the second pic than from the first. Are you saying he's "not even close" because of the color pattern? That can vary widely from fish to fish. Whether gibby or L. pardalis, he'll get big! PS-Your tetra and Molly look like they're trying to help ID him in that second pic. Are they counting rays? __________________ -Lisa Remember that Darwin was mostly right!

05-02-2007, 09:24 AM	#8
Yeti Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Ellsworth AFB,SD Posts: 201	yeah thats the problem this guy never swims around he moves to one place and stays nearly all day... __________________ My 55gal Aquarium Journal

05-02-2007, 09:38 AM	#9
kickeralpine Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: port charlotte florida Posts: 138	mine hides all day and is very lazy in his old age well maybe hes like his owner lol

05-02-2007, 02:22 PM	#10
Jarred Darque Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 666	if you need to manually extend the dorsal to take a pic, I have seen my common with striation like that at times, and he often changes from brown to black.

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