What Are My Plecs?

[Toothless]

Hi all

I've only just started keeping fish and I wanted a small place. I bought what I was told at the shop was a clown plecs which should grow to 4 inches. Anyway a friend came round and said it was another breed that could grow to 24 inch, I'm rather nervous. I have pics but they're too big to upload, can I email them to someone who'll know so they can be identified? If you don't want to put your email on here here my email is [email protected], email me and Ill send pics on.

Thanks all.

 

[fishprotector]

If you have a photobucket account, you can add the image link to a post and do it that way if it helps. Think Flickr works the same aswell

 

[Blitz]

Or you can upload it right from your computer.

Just click on "Use Full Editor" at near the 'post' button. Then just simply click "browse" and attach an image!

 

[xingumike]

Alternatively just google common pleco and clown pleco, they look pretty different.

 

[Toothless]

Alternatively just google common pleco and clown pleco, they look pretty different.

This is the one at the bottom. I've also posted this on another thread but any help would be appreciated!

 

[raptorrex]

Alternatively just google common pleco and clown pleco, they look pretty different.

This is the one at the bottom. I've also posted this on another thread but any help would be appreciated!

we will need a picture showing the fish, not just an out of focus, section of one.

 

[Toothless]

Alternatively just google common pleco and clown pleco, they look pretty different.

This is the one at the bottom. I've also posted this on another thread but any help would be appreciated!

we will need a picture showing the fish, not just an out of focus, section of one.

Apologies!!

The full fish is at the bottom centre but I appreciate it's a tad out of focus. Here's another.

 

[raptorrex]

Alternatively just google common pleco and clown pleco, they look pretty different.

This is the one at the bottom. I've also posted this on another thread but any help would be appreciated!

we will need a picture showing the fish, not just an out of focus, section of one.

Apologies!!

The full fish is at the bottom centre but I appreciate it's a tad out of focus. Here's another.

kinda better. can you not use a host, so we can have a better look. a fish Id pic usually has the fish taking up most of the image.

one thing i can say is your pleco is stressed (see the light patches on its body)

I have to admit, it could well be a gibby (24 inches +) but the picture is just not good enough to be more accurate.

 

[xingumike]

Yes it is, that is a Gibby.

If you were sold it as a Clown the take it back.

I am still yet to see this 24 inch claim I see everywhere proved but there is no doubt it will reach 16/17 inches.

They grow fast at that size as well.

 

[Toothless]

Yes it is, that is a Gibby.

If you were sold it as a Clown the take it back.

I am still yet to see this 24 inch claim I see everywhere proved but there is no doubt it will reach 16/17 inches.

They grow fast at that size as well.

Much appreciated. Will need to take it back as tanks only 125 litres!

Alternatively just google common pleco and clown pleco, they look pretty different.

This is the one at the bottom. I've also posted this on another thread but any help would be appreciated!

we will need a picture showing the fish, not just an out of focus, section of one.

Apologies!!

The full fish is at the bottom centre but I appreciate it's a tad out of focus. Here's another.

kinda better. can you not use a host, so we can have a better look. a fish Id pic usually has the fish taking up most of the image.

one thing i can say is your pleco is stressed (see the light patches on its body)

I have to admit, it could well be a gibby (24 inches +) but the picture is just not good enough to be more accurate.

Thank you. It probably was stressed, when pic was taken I'd had it a day and I hadn't got a cave sorted for it but that's all grand now.

 

[raptorrex]

Yes it is, that is a Gibby.

If you were sold it as a Clown the take it back.

I am still yet to see this 24 inch claim I see everywhere proved but there is no doubt it will reach 16/17 inches.

They grow fast at that size as well.

mainly because nobody keeps them in a tank, anything like big enough. and most are given back to the LFS when they get too big.

I've only seen Gibbies on video, that big.
but one of my local LFS had several Hypostomus plecos in a large tank (though it was nowhere near wide enough) all were over 14 inches. and one over 18. ugly looking brutes though.

as Hypostomus are known to grow much smaller than Gibbies in nature. its a fair assumption (given the right environment) they will do so in a tank.

 

[xingumike]

I've only seen Gibbies on video, that big.

Link?

 

[Toothless]

Update: I took the pleco back this weekend and explained that the fish wasn't as described (still advertised as clown plecos on the tank). The assistant said clown plecos are the same as gibby's and it's just a different name. Now she was quite off and made me out to be a bit thick but everything you've said and I've seen on the internet states they're different. Anyhow she took the fish but refused a refund. If anyone lives in west yorkshire avoid nautilus aquatics!

 

[xingumike]

Well done for returning it.

If it is the one inside a garden centre I have been there before.