Now A Member Of The Mis-sold Plecos Club

[pieman]

About 18months ago I bought a very small and young what I thought was a Bristlenose Pleco, I started to become concerned when I noticed that is had no markings, and in the last 6 months developed very faint white lines across it's back, and the growth of the bristles was bigger than that of any Bristlenose I had seen. So I started looking around and it turns out I have what I'm certain is an L-34, ANCISTRUS RANUNCULUS, Medusa Pleco. Which for me is a problem as they grow alot larger than the Bristlenose I had been expecting to buy.

Anyone else had this problem?

 

[emma12321]

if you got it for the price of a common bristlenose you have a bargain there. They only grow 8 inches or so so not a tank buster and they are a type of bristlenose so not mis sold as such, i had a pair til my heater boiled them great fish

Emma

 

[JenCliBee]

8 inches ??? should really only grow 2 the normal size of a common BN around 6 inches max if u had 8 inch 1's they must have been monsters lol

they arnt much different 2 normal BN's anyways just that little bit weirder looking lol

 

[ikongoni]

As already mentioned, L34 will only grow to 5-6 inches and IMHO is a far more interesting addition to your tank than a common.
Out of curiosity and large were you expecting your intended BN to grow...

 

[pieman]

I was new to the hobby at the time and didn't do much research and was told they would only grow to about 3 inches. So the extra 5 is a bit of a shock, but a good excuse for a bigger tank

 

[JenCliBee]

I was new to the hobby at the time and didn't do much research and was told they would only grow to about 3 inches. So the extra 5 is a bit of a shock, but a good excuse for a bigger tank

ill be very suprised if it gets 2 8 inches m8 more like 6 max but prob around 5 so not really much diference in space requirements wot size tank is he in then?

 

[pieman]

At the moment he's in a 56 Litre and he's about 2 inches long.

 

[JenCliBee]

At the moment he's in a 56 Litre and he's about 2 inches long.

Argh rite i get you .... in that case definetly a good reason for a tank upgrade lol

 

[pieman]

I was shocked to see him fully for the first time in a while, hardest photograph i've ever taken =]

 

[MartinS]

I was shocked to see him fully for the first time in a while, hardest photograph i've ever taken =]

I don't think it's a medusa...the facial bristles aren't right and the medusa is much wider across the head. It doesn't look like the common Ancistrus, but without a capture location, it's going to be near on impossible to get a confirmed ID.
Martin

 

[smithrc]

I don't think it's a medusa...the facial bristles aren't right and the medusa is much wider across the head.

I'd agree - not a medusa - its not as ugly as sin!

not sure what it is though...

 

[pieman]

I've started researching just what I might have, and the more I look into it, the less of an idea I have, bearing in mind that picture makes him seem alot bigger than he is =]

So far I've ruled out albino

 

[MartinS]

There don't appear (from a quick glimpse of all the images of ancistrus on PC) to be any ancistrus that are all one colour, but I'd suggest another pic of him in the light (definitely a boy from the amount of facial hair ) (if that's possible) and maybe ask over at PlanetCatfish - loricarids aren't my area of expertise, but am sure someone will be able to help.
HTH
Martin

 

[JenCliBee]

L45 maybe

 

[morgan]

I think I'm a founder member of this club. lol. I bought a Bristlenose and thought it was odd that it had just two bristles and seemed to be getting rather large. It turned out to be a Common! It is presently 15", somewhat larger than a Bristlenose. Still, it was a good reason to get a larger tank. Your Pleco looks very nice BTW.