****** What are these???? *******

[princess_pleco]

Hi there,

What kind of L plecos are these??? I have a total
of six and they have spawned twice already. The
first clutch of eggs was sucked off and got kicked
out the caves. The 2nd clutch off eggs were laid
after two weeks. I've tried artificially hatching them
and a few wigglers after 5 days but eventually all
perished due to fungus.
These were purchased originally from Exoticfinds.
Please let me know what kind of L plecos are these.
I will appreciate any inputs and information. I hate
to say what L numbers they were sold to me but I
would want to hear from some experts here first.
God bless all!!!
Princess_pleco

[Alistair]

Very nice. They could be L333(?)

[Barbie]

I'd say more likely L287/L399/L400, the Hypancistrus sp. "Belo Monte". I have 10 of them that were imported as L173, although mine show more variance than yours do. Nice fish, congrats!

Barbie

[Raul-7]

I'd say more likely L287/L399/L400, the Hypancistrus sp. "Belo Monte". I have 10 of them that were imported as L173, although mine show more variance than yours do. Nice fish, congrats!

Barbie

Why? Is the L287, L399 and L400 all the same species just different patterns?

[Sven T.]

Hi,

L400.

Sven

[Alistair]

Taking a closer look they are kind of a half way house between L399 (lines are quite unbroken) and L400 (more spots than lines).

Look at the site http://l-welse.com/index.php?page=l4 and see what you all think?[/url]

[Sven T.]

Hi,

it is not possible to separate L399 and L400 by the pattern. You have to look on the morphologic details.

Sven

[princess_pleco]

Thanks for the input everyone.
They were sold to me as L173. The alpha male has a different pattens. I'll take some pictures when he ventures out of his cave.

My L287 breeding colony is currently posted in aquabid.
Some of the L287 females (in aquabid) looked similar to some of the females here. and two males in my L287 look liked L400.

So very confused with all these L numbers.
Thanks though!!!

[Sven T.]

Hi

and two males in my L287 look liked L400.

Of course they do, because it is likely that L287 doesn't exist at all. In the last months all L399 and L400 were labeled as L173 or L287. Now they got their own number (L399/L400) and we can call by their "name".

Nobody knows if L287 was a mistake or it was only found once. There were no more plecos found at the suspected place. Everything seems that it was a mistake.

Sven

[KenW]

hi Sven,

what are the differences between the L399 and L400. Because in the past I have purchased L98, L173, L236, L287, and L340 that have a similar if not identitcal appearance to L399 and L400. What is the key to tell them apart?

Does the real L340 have more red in the body and fins like the pictures in Datz or like the one in aqualog.

Ken

[Sven T.]

Hi Ken,

to say it short: The body shape is only difference between L399 and L400. I am not very happy about they got two numbers. IMHO it is hard to separate these two species and sometimes I think this separation wasn't the best solution. (Even I.Seidel meant he could not always separate them.)

Sven

[princess_pleco]

Mr Sven,
Thanks for your help!
So that means, my L173 could be also L287 (which doesn't exist) or L400.
However, upon observing my L173(?) and L287(?) body structures and comparing them, they are totally different. My L287(?) (in aquabid) are way too bigger than the males in my L173(?). In addition, my L173's (?) are kinda short at 3" with bulky body and their heads a little fatter too. Whereas my L287's(?) males are already 4.25" with elongated body structures.
Thanks again for your help.
Princess_pleco

Hi

and two males in my L287 look liked L400.

Of course they do, because it is likely that L287 doesn't exist at all. In the last months all L399 and L400 were labeled as L173 or L287. Now they got their own number (L399/L400) and we can call by their "name".

Nobody knows if L287 was a mistake or it was only found once. There were no more plecos found at the suspected place. Everything seems that it was a mistake.

Sven