Sexing Para Plecos?

3bdesigns · Post by **3bdesigns** » 04 Aug 2006, 17:45

I have 2 beautiful and larger Para Plecos (one is about 6" and the other about 7.5"). Does anyone know how to sex them?

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 04 Aug 2006, 17:54

Do you mean ?

Most Peckoltia species can be sexed by the "hairyness" on the body, particlarly the back of the body and the pectoral fins.

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Mats

3bdesigns · Post by **3bdesigns** » 04 Aug 2006, 18:28

Yes Mats - that's the ones! I have 2. If I take good pictures of them, can you tell? I suspect I have 2 males, but not sure.

Post by **Janne** » 04 Aug 2006, 19:21

At a size around 15 cm SL (6") they become mature and they are not easy to sex if they not are in perfect condition. Males develope slightly heavier odontodes on their gills and where they start to grow will be more swollen then females, females looks also much plumpier then the males slender body. This species dont grow any odontodes on their back and males have just slightly longer odontodes on their pectoral fins...not really much to go on, on J. Armbruster's homepage he has moved them from Peckoltia to Hemiancistrus and maybe they make a better match with that genus.

Janne