jorabi

When I bought my pleco, the guy told me that he was pretty sure it was a clown pleco but was not 100% sure, as they had both types of plecos in the same tank! As my tank is only 20gallons, I cannot house a common pleco.. my understanding is they are the ones that get very very big!!! When I google pics, I see that clowns have tanned stripes on a brown background, my pleco looks like he has a tanned coloured background with brown polka dots! Also, his dorsal fin and tail are see-through except for the polka dots.

I have attached some pics of my very ugly but very cute little guy... any help would be appreciated!


Natalie - New Aquarium
20 gal
3 Turquoise Rainbow
2 Mollies
2 Koi Angels
1 Pleco
1 Aquarium Frog

Attached Images

	100_2444.jpg (323.4 KB, 96 views)
	100_2449.jpg (252.4 KB, 93 views)

AlyeskaGirl

Welcome to Fishlore!

Well, it deff isn't a clown, looks almost like a common.....

Just a note.....you need a bigger tank anyway......20-gal is gonna be too small for 2 Angelfish that grow to 6". They prefer a taller tank because of their high dorsal fin and long anal fin. You are overstocked....

The guideline is 1 inch of fish per gal of water and that is when they are full grown not when they are babies.

jorabi

Thanks for your advise. I guess I will have to start looking for a new home for Mr. Pleco!!

I hear what you are saying about the Angels, but I'm going to wait and see. The aquarium store told me they are already 1 - 1 1/2 yrs old and they are 3 inches and 3 1/2 inches already, if they keep growing, I will get a larger and taller tank for sure.

Butterfly

This is a clown Pleco
http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog...species_id=736
This is a common
http://www.planetcatfish.com/cotm/co...?article_id=64
Carol

jorabi

I'm even more confused...it definitely looks more like a common - however the face and head is shaped more like a clown...

Butterfly

It's definitely not a clown. They have stripes.
Carol

Amanda

Def. doesn't look like my clown, he has gold stripes.
That looks like a trinidad pleco?
http://liveaquaria.com/product/prod_...984&pcatid=984

jorabi

OMG!!! That is exactly what he looks like. I guess he is a Trinidad Pleco, which means he will grow to about 4 to 5"

Amanda

They grow to 11"...

Shawnie

no much larger than that..up to 12 inches....thats just the largest size that company sells


amanda LOL

cerianthus

I agree that this is not Clown! May I ask what these so called common pleco goes for?

jorabi

GREAT!!! I guess I will see in a few months...hehe

inkeys

i wouldn't wait a few months...it's very unlikely you randomly picked up a pleco that will stay under a foot... the only inexpensive plecos that stay under a foot are clown plecos, bristle nose plecos and rubber lip plecos, neither of which is the fish you own. most likely it is a marble pleco or just a regular old common sail fin pleco and will get any where from 12 to 24 inches.... if i were you i would return it now and look for a REAL dwarf pleco

jorabi

Thanks everyone for your responses...I am pretty sure now, it was a common pleco. However, it doesn't really matter now, I had a tank explosion a few weeks ago and I had to put all of my fish in a 5 gallon overnight before I could buy a new tank the next day. Sucky, my pleco was the only fish who did not make it.