Can Someone Identify My Snowball Pleco?

[Mr Melt]

Allright lads!

I asked this question previously, and got a mixed answer. In your opinion what type of Snowball Pleco is my one? Reason I'm asking is because I'm trying to see what size it will grow to.

I've had Nibbler the Pleco here for nearly a year now (hasn't grown much, if at all). As can be expected he is VERY reclusive, and also happens to only eat algae wafers (and even then, he will only eat Aquarian Algae Wafers ¬_¬). Attempts at zucchini and lettuce/cucumber have ended with the pieces untouched after a 2 day period; when I feed my tank bloodworms I'm not sure if he eats any, but I never see him rush out.

Anyways heres two pictures of him here (and a video which I took earlier; excuse the frustrated muttering =P)

This was when I 1st got it (which explains the really pale colour).

This was taken a few months on!

Heres the (updated) pictures of his underbelly:

And here's the video (taken an hour ago; excuse the quality and muttering, but its hard to catch an elusive pet on camera - also the tank is dirty due to the airstone being turned off for the camera):

Any feedback is appreciated - cheers!

 

[xingumike]

I would say with certainty it is not L102, or any of the white spotted Hypans, 201 is the closest you'll find.

Leaves the 'big spot' Bary you mention.

Something in the second photo suggest Scobi to me though, have a look at L48 to compare as you can see the fish in the tank.

 

[moochy13]

i had temporary care of what imled to believe was an L48 scobi, and it looks to me the fish i had has smaller, more numerous spots :

heres a short video of it. apologies for the tank cleanliness, id only just got back after being away, and they'd just been fed



going from my pics and vid, and assuming what i had was L48 (which looking at planet catfish i believe it is), id say the OP's fish wasnt a scobi.

 

[Iiriva]

It looks like L142 (or LDA-033) to me.

Does this one look similar to you? If yes, it's going to get big, something like 25 cm in size.

 

[Mr Melt]

It looks like L142 (or LDA-033) to me.

Does this one look similar to you? If yes, it's going to get big, something like 25 cm in size.

He hasnt grown in a year since I got him =P

If hes growing its VERY slow!

I should note that he only eats algae wafers; never seen him eat anything else. The store I got him from (Grosvenor Tropicals in Lisburn; 1st rate store) told me he was a "small Snowball pleco - reaching only 6 inches max"; sounds like a Hypancistrus to me, but they could have made a mistake.....

Also, by comparing with the Scobi his dorsal fin and his tail DO seem similar to the one in the videos......

How big do Scobis get? What do they eat? And is there anyway to make my pleco a bit less shy? He NEVER comes out =P

 

[moochy13]

scobis get pretty large going by planet catfish. go on there and check them out. theres one on there that looks about as long as a guys forearm.

 

[matubula]

Yours is a Baryancistrus. But if you can get a picture of it's mouth then it would confirm whether it was Bary/Scobi/Hypancistrus as they have different teeth and mouth shape. The two Baryancistrus that it could be are Baryancistrus cf. niveatus or Baryancistrus sp. L142/LDA033. But I don't know what the difference is between them.

I think people experiencing little to no growth within Baryancistrus (Gold Nuggets and alike) is common, as they aren't aware of their needs and can't provide them. I'd recommend reading this article. It's not specifically about your fish but they are so similar it doesn't matter.

PlanetCatfish article - The yellow seamed “Golden Nugget” – a problem pleco?

 

[Iiriva]

They grow reaaally slow, mine hasn't grown a bit in few months either...

But the shape of the mouth and teeth could tell more!

 

[Mr Melt]

Ill try getting more pics up; thanks for the article link!

EDIT - that article was very interesting; problem is that all he ever eats is algae wafers, so I would assume these wafers are closest to the "aufwachs" mentioned in the article.

He also lives in a tank with a powerful current and high oxygenation, which has a weekly 25% water change. I don't see why he is still so shy and why his growth is stunted =/

 

[Mr Melt]

Right, I'm trying to get a pic of his mouth but its impossible - he won't come out =/

Can I possibly pick him up to get a picture? I'm not sure if I can for the following reasons:

1 - by grabbing him I increase his stress levels.

2 - do Snowballs have poisonous barbs on their fins? I'm not sure myself =/

Any ideas people?

 

[Mr Melt]

UPDATE - after a stressful half hour I managed to get these few photos of my pleco.

In the process I think I destroyed half my tank and also cut my hand on my bogwood so I hope these pics were worth it (especially as not long after these were taken I added the last dose of anti-white spot into my tank - precautionary; added new fish the day before - and I managed to spill a bit of the stuff over the cut on my hand; of course it stung like mad for ages =P

Anyways heres Nibbler!

So from these pictures can you tell its sex/species then?

 

[matubula]

Well .......... it's not Baryancistrus. I could of sworn blind it was. It's either Scobiancistrus (must be L368) or Hypancistrus (likely H. contradens or L201). I'll plump for Hypancistrus due to it's chunky body shape. How big is it?

 

[Mr Melt]

Well .......... it's not Baryancistrus. I could of sworn blind it was. It's either Scobiancistrus (must be L368) or Hypancistrus (likely H. contradens or L201). I'll plump for Hypancistrus due to it's chunky body shape. How big is it?

Hmm.... maybe between 4 and 5 inches at the minute?

 

[Mr Melt]

BUMP - Anyone any clues?

 

[Mr Melt]

Same result as the last thread then; no ones got a clue =P