Chubby Plecos L56

[Bamboo]

LFS got in three L56 .... I wasn't aware this particular species changed colors ? One specimen is brown and yellow tiger pattern , another is light grey blue , and the 3rd specimen is a drab grey .. Any thoughts based on the pictures ? Thanks in advance.

[mcaquatic]

There are several plecos that go by chubby. I am pretty sure what you have is not the L56, but Parancistrus aurantiacus (which has no L number). I have 4 Parancistrus aurantiacus and really like them even though I never see them.

[Jools]

L056 isn't a species that we really ever see exported. I agree this is some sort of

Parancistrus

sp.

Jools

[Bamboo]

Thanks for the input ... I didn't think these were the L56 with some of the research I've been doing... These are still neat plecos .. I believe these will probably max out about 5 inches ?

[Borbi]

Hi,

there are several forms of what is currently considered to be Parancistrus aurantiacus.
They MIGHT grow to a foot or slightly larger, depending on where they are from (and which form they belong to), the smaller forms appear to reach about 6inch (all sizes total lengths).

Cheers,
Sandor

[mcaquatic]

Thanks for the input ... I didn't think these were the L56 with some of the research I've been doing... These are still neat plecos .. I believe these will probably max out about 5 inches ?

I asked one of my friends to get me some chubbies a couple of weeks ago. His exporter sent him pictures of the fish I am almost positive they are L 56 based on what I have seen in catalog here, so I didn't take them. IF anyone is interested in them I can see if they are still available.

[mcaquatic]

Hi,

there are several forms of what is currently considered to be Parancistrus aurantiacus.
They MIGHT grow to a foot or slightly larger, depending on where they are from (and which form they belong to), the smaller forms appear to reach about 6inch (all sizes total lengths).

Cheers,
Sandor

DO they all have xanto potential?

[Borbi]

Hi,

DO they all have xanto potential?

yes, they do.
Although, according to my information, it is not established beyond doubt what will trigger the color change.
I have seen fish kept in very low light environments to become (more) golden, while I have also seen fish turn golden in what appeared to be their spawning season.

Cheers,
Sandor

[mcaquatic]

Hi,

DO they all have xanto potential?

yes, they do.
Although, according to my information, it is not established beyond doubt what will trigger the color change.
I have seen fish kept in very low light environments to become (more) golden, while I have also seen fish turn golden in what appeared to be their spawning season.

Cheers,
Sandor

interesting. Is it size related at all?

[PlecosAndLoaches]

Are these not LDA046?

[Borbi]

Hi,

Is it size related at all?

well, I have personally never seen any "golden" ones below about 4in TL (but then, again, I have rarely ever seen them below 4in TL at all).
Whether this is because they are not caught in smaller sizes or they simply don´t exist in smaller sizes (the golden ones) is not yet clear to me.
Assuming the theory that it is related to lighting levels - meaning essentially the golden ones are collected in the depths of the river channels - it would make sense that it is only the large(r) ones that migrate into the depths.

Are these not LDA046

The ones with the scribbled lines go by this code number.
They are still currently considered to all be P. aurantiacus.
I don´t even have enough data at hand on them to establish whether they are a distinct form or appear among the "regular", grey ones.

Cheers,
Sandor

[mcaquatic]

interesting. I have 4 in a well lit tank. Maybe I will pick up four more for a tank with low light