How Do You Know?!

[Rorie]

I am looking for a Snowball plec - i hear it stays small, and is fine in a planted aquarium.

On this forum, there is a "pleco under 8 inch" thread. There they mention the snowball and state it as L102. LINK It is stated as growing to only 6.4"....perfect.

Though when it comes to finding one, i have come across so many snowball plecs, but are stated as being up to 12"! I have also seen them stated as LDA33. So, how do i know what i am going to get?! I want to ensure i get a plec which will only grow to 8 inch! Even my 360L tank is not enough to deal with a 12" plec...thats just cruel!

Thanks

 

[JenCliBee]

I am looking for a Snowball plec - i hear it stays small, and is fine in a planted aquarium.

On this forum, there is a "pleco under 8 inch" thread. There they mention the snowball and state it as L102. LINK It is stated as growing to only 6.4"....perfect.

Though when it comes to finding one, i have come across so many snowball plecs, but are stated as being up to 12"! I have also seen them stated as LDA33. So, how do i know what i am going to get?! I want to ensure i get a plec which will only grow to 8 inch! Even my 360L tank is not enough to deal with a 12" plec...thats just cruel!

Thanks

The lda33 is referred to as a big white spot (does get much bigger than 102), it's also a different genus to 102... basically the the 102 really doesn't look like anything other than a 102... as long as you get from a reliable source you shouldn't have any problems .

 

[Rorie]

OK thanks. Do you think that most online places which specifically specify the L number (rather than my LFS that just say 'snowball plec' ) are more reliable?

Would you agree that the snowball is a plec which is fine in a planted tank?

Thanks

 

[JenCliBee]

OK thanks. Do you think that most online places which specifically specify the L number (rather than my LFS that just say 'snowball plec' ) are more reliable?

Would you agree that the snowball is a plec which is fine in a planted tank?

Thanks

Yep you would always be better from specific online plec retailers in regards to actually getting what's stated. Like i said there really isn't a plec close enough to be mistaken as far as i can remember and 102's are quite common in the trade.

As to it been fine in a planted tank.... yes they usually don't eat plants been a hypancistrus species, they do prefer the temp a little higher than your average community and primarily a meat/high protein eating species. So as long as those criteria are met you shouldn't have a problem within a planted tank .