Do All Ancistrus Have Bristles?

[fishnovice]

Saw a big 7inch plec for sale on Ebay, advertised as Ancistrus. Seller said it had no bristles at all and wasn't a bristlenose - lfs described it as Ancistrus when he bought it. It's a typical plec shape,looks like a brown BN with yellow spots.
Are all Ancistrus species BN or are there other kinds?

 

[JenCliBee]

All ancistrus as far as im aware will have bristles, females far less and from experience most 'common' BN females don't have bristles at all. In general they will have bristles. At 7 inch it doesn't sound like a common BN so im thinking a different species.

Yellow spots sounds more golden nugget than ancistrus, picture would be better to try an ID

 

[fishnovice]

All ancistrus as far as im aware will have bristles, females far less and from experience most 'common' BN females don't have bristles at all. In general they will have bristles. At 7 inch it doesn't sound like a common BN so im thinking a different species.

Yellow spots sounds more golden nugget than ancistrus, picture would be better to try an ID

I agree it's far too big for a female BN. Was probably mis sold by LFS initially as is often the case with plecs. Better not risk it in case it turns out to be a juvenile gibbiceps or something huge.No room in my tanks for a 2ft monster!

 

[JenCliBee]

All ancistrus as far as im aware will have bristles, females far less and from experience most 'common' BN females don't have bristles at all. In general they will have bristles. At 7 inch it doesn't sound like a common BN so im thinking a different species.

Yellow spots sounds more golden nugget than ancistrus, picture would be better to try an ID

I agree it's far too big for a female BN. Was probably mis sold by LFS initially as is often the case with plecs. Better not risk it in case it turns out to be a juvenile gibbiceps or something huge.No room in my tanks for a 2ft monster!

Would it happen to be this one...220545697218, if so it's a L001 gold spot (P.joselimaianus) with a potential size of 18-24 inches, not an ancistrus but a relation of the common species.