A different type of pleco.

Hi,
going to lfs yesterday I saw a very peculiar algae eater. It's colour was exactly the same as the common pleco (sort of spotted). But its side fins, if it was fins were completely different to the common pleco. The algae eater actually looked v.much like a ray! I cou;dnt see how it was exactly bcause it was v.small, but at first glance it looks just like a ray. I asked they guy there how big it grew etc, but he said he had 'no idea'. Anyone here knows what type of algae eater this is? In was v.tempted to take it as it was R12.00/R19.00, but wasn't sure... just now I get something that's not right and I'll suffer later. If anyone know pls let me know, bcause if it is possible to keep I should still be able to get it,hopefully.
Thanks!
S.M

 

Nobody see anything like this?

 

How big was it. Was it a bit like this?

 

nearly. only the sides were more wide. actually I searched the web but cat find anything like it....
maybe as they grow they get narrower? as this one was a bit smaller than the one in the pic

 

Sure it's not one of these? They have a million different names, including butterfly loaches.

 

hmmm. it could be something like the first in the pic....

 

Right. Another name for them is Gastromyzon. How about this (same species, more pictures)

 

Ah found a pic by chance,like this...


Same thing armadillo, eh?

 

Yeah, that definitely looks like that gastromyzon thing. Totally the same thing. I think they like coldish water, but I could be confused with the million other fish he wanted to get and we had to research

 

That last pic is a Chinese Hillstream Loach, also known as a Borneo Suckerfish and several other names. They can live with goldfish as they like cooler water, and some fish shops sell them as "coldwater plecos" or "butterfly plecos" - including one of my LFSs! They aren't plecos at all, and have slightly different requirements. They will eat algae but are't as good at it as real plecos or otos, as they don't have sucker mouths, just the fused fins to create a suction pad and a regular mouth.

Read more about them here:


And here:
https://www.loaches.com/species-index/beaufortia-kweichowensis