Did I Get A Chocolate Or An Albino Chocolate?

[Starywary]

I got a pleco at the LFS the other day, advertised as a Chocolate Pleco. When I got home I looked it up ( he has been my only fish so far that I didn't research first, it was an impulse bu, I know I know, but I couldn't resist) and it said there were Chocolates, albino chocolates, and rhino plecos. from what I read I understood that a chocolate is the same thing as a rhino, and there's the albino version? But the description and pics said that the chocolate has reddish eyes and light brown color. Obviously the albino would have redder almost pink eyes and more whitish color. So I took another look at my guy, and to me it looks like his eyes do seem reddish, and he's a very light almost tan color. He's still a little one, about 2 inches tops. I did take pics while he was in the bag acclimating, (figured I wouldn't get a good pic once he was in the tank) but they're not perfectly clear since it's through plastic. I'll post them tomorrow, they're still on my camera. I know it's not much help without the pic, but I am just so curious. I can't believe how much I love this pleco. He's my favorite fish in the tank. Is it possible to be in love with a fish?? LOL.

oh and also picked up an albino bushynose today. so cute, and so little! my only two plecos so far and I am realizing I have a thing for albinos I didn't know I liked them that much. I have 2 albino corys, an albino paradise, the pleco, and 7 gold pristellas which aren't technically albino but they are very light. I want to get a black background, black gravel, and all albino fish!!

 

[JenCliBee]

I dont think it really matters what you've got other than it sounds like a colour morpth of a common which will get way to big for your 30g tank. You will need an upgrade sooner than you think (estimated growth should be 8-10 inches within first year). So it will probably outgrow your tank giving the correct diet and conditions in 6months time.

Lovely fish but the research really should have been done first.

 

[fluttermoth]

The chocolate or albino chocolate plec is Glyptoperichthys scrophus. They're not albinos at all; they're just called that because they're lighter in colour than most plecs; they can also lighten as they get older.
Lovely fish, but you really should have researched before buying as most places give the adult size as 14" but possibly up to 18"...
Hope yu've got a big tank lined up!

 

[Starywary]

I know, I totally messed up on that one and my common sense went out the window. Derrrrr. The only fish I didn't research first. But I do have a few tanks lined up, my gf has a 72 bowfront running right now, and I will be upgrading to a 55 when we move in June. Will a 55 be ok for a little while? We do have a 75 stored away too, but I think she might be taking that one, lol. I was very picky that she let me do everything myself so I'd learn. well ok, when I was setting up the tank I forgot to add water conditioner to it so she did it before I even realized, lol. But other than that, she provides knowledge and experience, but not the actual work.

 

[fluttermoth]

A 55 would be ok for a while; luckily these fish are quite slow growing once they get past the 12" or so size. Just keep up your water quality and watch its growth so it doen't get cramped or stunted