Pleco Id Please - Common, Sailfin, Or Other?

[smmetz]

Hey, I have been thinking of getting another fish tank this year as my pleco is getting big for my 55 gallon. I've had the fish for over a year, it has grown from under 4 inches to 8 inches.

My hope is that if I can ID the exact species of the fish, I will have a better idea of what size tank I will need.

I tried to get a good pic of the pectoral fin (thats the big top one, right?), but the fish doesn't spread that out very often. Can it be IDed with these pics?

 

[fishnterrapins]

Looking at it i'd be inclined to say that it was a sail fin or a common but i'd wait for someone else to confirm

 

[smmetz]

Yeah, I was guessing it was a sailfin or common, was hoping to find out which one. If someone has an idea, please let me know. If there is something in particular I can look for to tell the difference (that we can't tell from the pictures), please let me know.

Thanks.

 

[Castellop123]

...

 

[KathyM]

Liposarcus pardalis (common plec)

A 4ft x 18" x 18" minimum for this fella, 5ft x 2ft x 2ft even better

 

[smmetz]

I was almost able to count the rays in the big top fin on my pleco. He has about 10 of them. Does that help confirm if he is a sailfin or a common pleco? Thanks again for any help!

 

[Bloo]

As Kathy says - definitely a common

 

[helterskelter]

That's a common but it has some nice colour to it which is what's confusing some people.

 

[cheesy feet]

Yahh def common, sailfins are a bit wider and more brown IME

 

[LisaLQ]

Sailfins are gold with black spots. Commons are dark brown with black spots/network marks. Sailfins have a rounded and much larger dorsal fin (hence the name). A common plec's dorsal fin is not as high or rounded (IME they have a virtually straight edge, rather than the big rounded sail).

If you ask me - if any were to be described as a "bit more brown" it'd be the common.

Sailfin pics on PC:
http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/image.php?image_id=2960

http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/image.php?image_id=1096

Common:
http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/image.php?image_id=4180

http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/image.php?image_id=1097

http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/image.php?image_id=5589