Common Plec Acting Strange?

[Ranger]

My common plec sometimes "hovers" in one spot. I know Plecs are much for cruising, but he isn't even sucking on anything. He kindof sits on the bottom with his tail on touching, but its front half is "hovering" and almost looks like hes propping himslef up with his fins... He only does this sometimes and then goes back to munching around my tank...

Also has lighter blotches on him as opposed to being dark all around, is this normal? I've seen it on alot of common plecs.

Another also... how do you sex them? I dunno if mine is male or female.

 

[raptorrex]

My common plec sometimes "hovers" in one spot. I know Plecs are much for cruising, but he isn't even sucking on anything. He kindof sits on the bottom with his tail on touching, but its front half is "hovering" and almost looks like hes propping himslef up with his fins... He only does this sometimes and then goes back to munching around my tank...

Also has lighter blotches on him as opposed to being dark all around, is this normal? I've seen it on alot of common plecs.

Another also... how do you sex them? I dunno if mine is male or female.

lol i see it a lot with my bunch. though i am far from an expert on plecs, i cant see any problems, with the behaviour. my leopard plec, one of the plecs sold as "common plecs", has light patches like you describe. it also changes shade as it moves around the tank. it is not so obvious now as i have changes the layout of my tank, but it used to go from light brown with fawn spots, to black with brown patches, whenever it came close to a black drift wood log!

 

[Bex]

I'd say this was normal too. All my plecs do it. And commons do change colour a lot depending on mood and their surroundings. I wouldn't worry about it.

As for sexing, I'm no good at that either. Someone else might be able to help. I think with plecs, a lot of it depends on how old they are as you can only sex them once they are mature. For now, all my plecs are "he's"

 

[Ranger]

ok great, thanks guys.