Pelcos?

[dan2x38]

I've been getting interested in pelcos... I know... I know before I said they were ugly but now I got 3 BNs each in a seperate tank...

Why do they identify them all with: L-### ? Also is there a website for approx. fish prices online? I've discovered more pelcos 5" and less... I still do not like the bigger ones besides have no tanks to keep one...

[beowulf]

I've been getting interested in pelcos... I know... I know before I said they were ugly but now I got 3 BNs each in a seperate tank...

Why do they identify them all with: L-### ? Also is there a website for approx. fish prices online? I've discovered more pelcos 5" and less... I still do not like the bigger ones besides have no tanks to keep one...

There are just so many they stopped naming them along with the fact that some are so close in looks etc. http://www.planetcatfish.com/core/ for information and http://www.exoticfinds.net/secondplecopage.html for pricing and getting some cool ones.

PS it's Plecos

[babblefish1960]

The identification numbers exist because the scientific community takes so long to agree and prove the discovery of new species of PLECOS (Plecostomus, pleco, or plec is a general name for a type of freshwater tropical Central and South American fish belonging to the family Loricariidae.) and as a result, fish discovered still in question keep their DATZ numbers until such time as they are officially sanctioned as a bona fide separate true species of unique fish. The same DATZ system exists for Apistogrammas which continue to be discovered, and it takes a long time to determine if it is merely a variant of one species versus an entirely new species.

[dan2x38]

http://www.planetcatfish.com/core/ for information and http://www.exoticfinds.net/secondplecopage.html for pricing and getting some cool ones.

Wow thanks I had no idea there were so many... range of pricing was wild too... 1 was $225 holy crap... also did not know how many were under 6" always thought most were big...

Thanks guys! 

[beowulf]

Wow thanks I had no idea there were so many... range of pricing was wild too... 1 was $225 holy crap... also did not know how many were under 6" always thought most were big...

Thanks guys! 

Just remember that most of the fancy ones have different needs then a common pleco.  Most of them are omnivores that need a fair bit of meat in their diets and while they might eat some of the algae in a tank, they should not be bought for that reason.