Which One Of The Following Plecos Do You Prefer?

[Curiosity101]

I will be buying one or two of the following plecs in the near future. I know in the end it comes down to my own decision, but as I'm finding it so hard to pick I need to be able to see pics of them all at the same time. Which made me think...hmm, turn it into a poll and see what everyone else thinks aswell!

^^ Number 1 - An L270 - Chocholate Zebra

^^ Number 2 - An L340 - Mega Clown

^^ Number 4 - An L015 - Candy Striped

^^ Number 5 - An L002 - Tiger Peckoltia

^^ Number 6 - An L008 - Leopard Peckoltia

Just like to note, all pictures were collected from google and the copyrights are obviously held by the respective photographers

nb. Took number 3 out of the running

 

[JustKia]

Purely on looks - number 3
How big does he get?

 

[Curiosity101]

Roughly 4.5", and they're like gold dust at the mo! Lol. But plenty of time till Christmas and the 1/2 will be a present to myself

 

[razer121]

number 3, what type is he?

 

[betta fish]

Number 3 for me too is that a snowball plec? but number 2 is rather nice also my fave has to be a zebra plec though, shame they are so expensive

 

[ZoddyZod]

3.

The clear definition between the white fin stripes and the black is very eye catching. Although I guess the quality of the photos may by making me biased, seeing them in the flesh might change my mind.....

 

[Haych]

i voted number 2, but also LOVE number 3 lol

 

[Curiosity101]

Number 3 has a couple of names (hence why I used the L number). But I think they are White Seam Pleco and Starlight Bristlenose Catfish.

I'll add common names to the first post aswell!

 

[JustKia]

A starlight bristlenose?
I thought he looked sort of sparkly - like the stars at night - how wierd, although I guess that's the point LOL

 

[dave_oddballs]

i voted number 5, L183 is nice at that size, shame its an ugly bristlenose and ugly when older, and they don't even get to 4" just short of 4" max, and have to be kept in a blackwater set up to live a full healthy life and to have any chance of breeding.

 

[Curiosity101]

i voted number 5, L183 is nice at that size, shame its an ugly bristlenose and ugly when older, and they don't even get to 4" just short of 4" max, and have to be kept in a blackwater set up to live a full healthy life and to have any chance of breeding.

Seriously? I hadn't found any of this whilst asking breeders and keepers etc? (Not implying your wrong), but also in my googling I hadn't found any of this?
I'm guessing you speak from personal experience?

 

[JenCliBee]

Nice choice you have chosen C, for me it would have to be the 340 pitty alot that are around dont actually look like the one in the pic , second choice would be the 270 stunning little plecs if you get some nice patterned ones.

The 183 (white seamed) is a blackwater fish but doesn't need to be kept in those conditions, ideally for breading yes and possibly for wild caught specimens it would be better, however most of the ones you are likely to come across are tank bred and wouldn't now blackwater if it hit them on the head lol.... oh BTW that picture is almost definitely photoshoped lol, the white seams are very rarely that prominent, they also pretty much lose the white seams with age aswell and the spots aren't so noticeable either just thought i would give you a heads up incase you expected them to stay like that there whole life , one more thing, not sure where dave got his sizes from but these can reach 7 inches, i had 3 all over 6 inches myself.

Anyways my choice is 340 if you can obtained ones that are patterned like that

 

[JustKia]

I think "ugly" is a personal opinion and not a characteristic.
planetcatfish did say they need blackwater for breeding, but that's the only site I looked at - just to see what it was.

 

[dave_oddballs]

yes, ugly being my personal opinion, dont like any bristle noses, think they're all ugly lol.
yes i used to have a group of them in a bare tank full of bogwood, peat and almond leaves. i know some people just keep them in your average tank but for them to be completely happy you need to meet their needs and soft, slightly acidic blackwater is a few of them. they don't breed as easily as your common bristlenose's, hence the lack of them available. all things said they are probably the best looking of the ancistrus family and if your into that sorta thing, probably worth waiting for as opposed to getting common bristlenose's.

 

[Curiosity101]

I personally don't like bristlenoses, but it's the only black plec I found with that sort of pattern. And I've seen pics of the adult, personally I quite like it, prefer the female to the male (less bristles). But overall I actually like them.

My water is soft and slightly acidic... just not blackwater... what do you think?