One Last Try For Poofish - Ancistrus Id

[KathyM]

Right, I'm prolly flogging a dead horse but I got some fab pics and wanted to see if it shed any light on whether he IS ancistrus triradiatus as Cup on PF suspected or whether he's summat else. He is 2.5" SL and not growing any more (hasn't grown in 5 months at least).

Right here goes:

Not so hot pic of his belly, which makes him look skinny but he's actually very fat *lol*

Side view

I should add that in the last few pics he'd had a big hissy fit and flicked sand everywhere, hence him looking a right mucky pup.

I've also put these on PF so if they give me any answers, I'll update here

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I does look a lot like Ancistrus triradiatus, i'm pretty sure it is;

http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/speci...?species_id=883

I'll keep searching for you anyway just in case i turn up any other posible matches .
edit: the only other posibility i have come up with so far is L088;

http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/speci...species_id=1254

edit: and this guy;

http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/speci...?species_id=793

edit: Ooo this one looks Very similar (Ancistrus maracasae);

http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/speci...species_id=1481

edit: And another similar bristle nose (LDA53);

http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/speci...species_id=1118

 

[KathyM]

Thank you so much Tokis - you're a diamond. Looks wise he could be either, couldn't he? Size wise I'd sway towards L088, depending on how likely it is for them to crop up in fish shops as 1"-ers (which is the size we got him at).

I'd really love to get him some girlfriends and see if we can make baby Poofishes.

Oooo - another L088 pic I just found:

http/atlas.drpez.org/Ancistrus-sp-L088-fotos/aad

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Thank you so much Tokis - you're a diamond. Looks wise he could be either, couldn't he? Size wise I'd sway towards L088, depending on how likely it is for them to crop up in fish shops as 1"-ers (which is the size we got him at).

I'd really love to get him some girlfriends and see if we can make baby Poofishes.

Oooo - another L088 pic I just found:

http/atlas.drpez.org/Ancistrus-sp-L088-fotos/aad

Glad to help ! I just found some other similar looking pleco's which i just added to my first post if you wanna check them out too .

 

[KathyM]

I think we can rule out the last two, as he doesn't have spots any more (unless they're variable that way).

That rio chirgua one looks VERY similar indeed.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I think we can rule out the last two, as he doesn't have spots any more (unless they're variable that way).

That rio chirgua one looks VERY similar indeed.

Cool . I don't think there are any other posibilities of pleco's that it could be, so i think when it comes down to it now it is most likely either;
a. ancistrus triradiatus
b. L088
c. rio chirgua

Hmm...
I guess at the least you have a rather rare pleco- which do you think it is most likely to be for now based on the pics of the above 3 plecos?

 

[KathyM]

LOL - no idea Tokis! Someone on PC reckons he's a manufactured "balloon" type common bristlenose, charming eh? Firstly, never heard of "balloon common bristlenoses" and secondly, he's nowt like a sp. 3 in colouring, tail shape, etc. Hey well, I asked for opinions, I should learn to accept them gracefully. But noone disses the Poofish

 

[KathyM]

Had an update from Cup on his thread on PF. He is reluctant to ID him as anything other than "piedmont ancistrus" (a group term for these types) but says that L279 is a "distinct possibility".

I think that's as close as we're likely to get sadly. Which means no Poobabies unless we are willing to let him crossbreed (something I'm not keen on).

But, I knew he was an odd one!