Hello, I'm New To Both Keeping Fish & Using A Site Such As Thi

[Maxine-R]

I was advised in the store I purchased him from that he would grow to around 4". So I am not surprised in your post that you mention 5", either way I'm just glad to have knowledge of this.

I have already got a cave for him. He doesn't spend too much in there, he's usually out and about in the tank. But he does use the cave if needed.

My next concern is finding out his sex, however I wonder if this would be easier to do when he's a bit older. I don't know why I have called him a he up to this point, I guess it looks more like a boy fish rather than a girl fish ☺ but i'll find out in due time.

 

[Akasha72]

did it mention anything in the planet catfish link about sexing them? With the ancistrus it's easy as only the male grows whiskers, the female stays smooth nosed. I'd only be concerned about sex for two reasons - 1, if you want to breed from him or 2, if you plan to add another at a later date. It's possible that two males may fight so obviously on that basis knowing the sex would help. If you plan to keep him alone then the sex is irrelevent really
 
He is very cute .. I can't say that about many plecs! 

 

[Maxine-R]

On the site it mentions that males are slightly wider but with me not having another with it to compare it with I can't tell.

I'm not planing on getting another, I would just be interested to know if it is a he or she. It feels a bit cruel calling it a he if it is in fact a she .

It's not really important which it is, its just nice to know what you have.
And yes he/she is quite cute

 

[Akasha72]

I did go back on the link and read what it said about sexing ... and you're right, when you've nothing to compare it with it's impossible to know. What you could do is wait until 'he' grows a bit and then join planet catfish and post some photo's of 'him'. There will be someone on there that can sex 'him' for you, I'm sure. They are great guys on PC and I've found them always happy to help in any way they can

 

[Maxine-R]

I agree. I'd figured that its something that would probably be better looking at when 'he's' older.

My step son has named him bulldog. If it does turn out to be a girl I'll just rename her bulldogette

 

[Akasha72]

lol! lets wait and see if someone on PC can sex 'him' first! 

 

[CSnyder00]

It's a bulldog or rubberlipped pleco. Very nice might I add. Some of these are hard to keep. Seems like yours is doing fine!

 

[TwoTankAmin]

If you go to Planet catfish and put bulldog into the quick search box you will discover that there are 5 species of pleco called bulldog.
 
Scientific Name     Chaetostoma sp. `RIO ZUATA(ORINOCO)`  Eigenmann, 1920
Common Name(s)     L187, White Spot Bulldog Pleco White Spot Rubbernose Pleco
 
Scientific Name     Chaetostoma aff. milesi   
Common Name(s)     L445, Spotted Bulldog Pleco Black Spotted Bulldog Pleco, Spotted Rubbernose Pleco, Villavicencio I
 
Scientific Name     Chaetostoma formosae  Ballen, 2011
Common Name(s)     L187B, Blonde Rubbernose Pleco L444, Blonde Bulldog Pleco, Blonde Rubber Pleco, Striped Bulldog Pleco, Striped Rubber Pleco, Striped Rubbernose Pleco
 
Scientific Name     Dolichancistrus fuesslii  (Steindachner, 1911)
Common Name(s)     L225, Big White Spot Rubbernose Pleco L442, Big White Spot Bulldog Pleco
 
Scientific Name Chaetostoma lineopunctatum Eigenmann & Allen , 1942
Common Name(s) L276, Bloodfin Bulldog Pleco
 
They have pictures of most plecos and often they show them for both sexes and for fry and juveniles as well as adults

 

[CSnyder00]

Very nice TTA. Most people wouldn't take the time to post all of them. Thanks for the very detailed description. You are correct that there are many that are called this. As I stated, generally they are also called Rubbernose Plecos. They sell them here at PetSmart as one or the other.

 

[Maxine-R]

I have always believed he was a bulldog pleco and I had also heard that another name for them was rubbernose. After looking on the site mentioned looking at the pictures the stripped bulldog pleco looks right which does have the name rubber nose also as the above post states.

He (if it is a he .. I still can't work it out) is still a fantastic looking creature. Got a little bigger but still very cute ☺

 

[AmtotheBurr]

He is a cute little booger isn't he. Good luck on your tank!