Dwarf Gourami, Do Not Know The Kind Of Algae Eater

[Elwood220]

one of two dwarf gouramis
would like to know what type of algae eater that is

 

[BaylorPerez]

its a pleco, looks like a Spotted placo that eats pretty much any algae on tank glass and algae wafers.

 

[Elwood220]

thanks ill look that one up was told something else.
trying to find a better lfs than petsmart or pet supplies plus.
mostly saltwater joints in bham

 

[Sophie]

Looks to be Pterygoplichthys pardalis L021 - in which case, that's a 13/14" fish.

http/www.planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?species_id=88

 

[Akasha72]

I still think it's a whiptail of some kind. I'm on planet catfish right now searching for you. The nose is too pointed for a pleco 
 
Please can you re-post the other photo here too Elwood 

http/www.planetcatfish.com/common/image.php?species=loricaria_simillima&image_id=1108
 
http/www.planetcatfish.com/common/image.php?species=hemiloricaria_fallax&image_id=4347
 
http/www.planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?species_id=741
 
All of those look similar

 

[Sophie]

Or, if he counts the dorsal rays... 10 or more would place it in the genus Pterygoplichthys.

It's definitely not a whip imo.

 

[Akasha72]

Found it! Looks exact to me anyway
 
here you go http/www.planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?species_id=1339

 

[Sophie]

Where's TwoTank nowadays? He's good with L's as far as my memory serves me.

 

[Elwood220]

here is a top view

 

[Sophie]

May I ask how much you paid?
This will be a good indication of species.

Also, when his dorsal fin is up, count how many rays it has - the hard bones inbetween the thin membrane of skin.

 

[Akasha72]

there's one thing. It's definitely NOT a common plec! That's the good news. I went through all the L numbers on PC last night and the one I linked to in post number 7 is the closest of the lot. Colours can be slightly different dependent on sex from what I could make out on PC.
 
I suppose you could join PC and post up your photo's for the guys there to ID. They really are the experts when it comes to catfish

 

[Sophie]

So, I don't want to rock the boat as I've only just come back to the site after quite some time but if you zoom in on the picture, you can actually count 10 dorsal rays.
 
It may not be P. pardalis but I am adamant it belongs in the genus. Many of the "common" species are mass farmed and hybridisation has and does occur, hence patterning can be unreliable.
As per Planet Catfish says on identification of Pterygoplichthys:
 
"Pterygoplichthys can be identified by the number of rays in the dorsal fin. More than 10 indicates that it's a Pterygoplichthys. Most other plecos have 8 or fewer rays (in particular the larger Hypostomus species that are most likely to be confused with Pterygoplichthys)."
 
Sorry OP for the confusion. Please do ask elsewhere for a confirmation but I guarantee 110% it's a "common" plec that's going to grow to around 14" or so.
 
 
EDIT: Asked Steven Grant, one of the "PC Experts" - he agrees on the genus.

 

[Akasha72]

have you looked at the Panac's Sophie? Some of that genius looked similar too
 
Your not rocking the boat either, we're here to help and I for one would love to know what this catfish it. He/she is very cute and I'm intrigued

 

[Sophie]

Panaque? The body shape is wrong. They're very large in the head and it tapers very quickly down to a point. Even as juveniles the rostrum is very long, much longer than this chap here.
 
Sorry - I think I have been conditioned over the past few years from Facebook. I almost expect people to throw a tantrum.
I'm beginning to see why I was warned about "Facebook land" on here in the first place!

 

[Akasha72]

no 'facebook land' here hun. We're all here to learn and to help - that's how I see it anyway.
 
Yes Panaque - I knew I'd spelt it wrong but thought you'd get which I meant.
 
Have you seen Elwoods picture on the other thread about stocking? It shows a close up of the head of this catfish and it's nose is pointed. That rules out the common plec and the BN ... my knowledge of other types is really limited but I've got a bee in me bonnet now about I'Ding it lol