Need positive id on panaqolusmaccus (clown pleco)

Christina · Post by **Christina** » 11 Feb 2003, 13:42

Hi all. I'm fairly confident one of my newer babes is a clown plec, but questions arose to its markings. Anyone care to comment? Thanks.

Post by **Silurus** » 11 Feb 2003, 14:04

By "newer babes", I presume that these were the result of a breeding attempt? Young loricariids are known to have different color patterns from adults, and if you wait a few more weeks/months, you might see the color pattern of your fish changing to a more striped pattern typical of <i.P. maccus</i>.

Christina · Post by **Christina** » 11 Feb 2003, 15:27

My mistake in wording. No, these are not "my" babies. That will come in the future

The one pictured I've had for a few wks, and when I posted, people said it definately looks like the p. maccus, just weird colouring. He is quite small, maybe 1" not including tail fin.

Thanks for the info.

Post by **Silurus** » 11 Feb 2003, 15:38

Well, give it time to grow and the pattern is most likely to change. Maybe you'll get a better idea of what it is then.

Christina · Post by **Christina** » 11 Feb 2003, 15:43

Thanks for the quick replies

Post by **Shane** » 12 Feb 2003, 01:41

Not P. maccus. See the Cat-E-Log for photos of P. maccus fry.
-Shane

Christina · Post by **Christina** » 12 Feb 2003, 01:52

If not P.Maccus, then what?? Now my curiousity is definately peeked.

Ben · Post by **Ben** » 13 Feb 2003, 07:59

Nope, not a P.Maccus, juviniles look like this one of mine, since grown up:

http://community.webshots.com/photo/520 ... 7502IuYHID

I would guess you have one of the many Peckoltia sp. have a look at this one, seems to fit:

http://www.planetcatfish.com/ilibrary/l ... /536_f.htm

Christina · Post by **Christina** » 13 Feb 2003, 13:04

well, thats a disappointment

I will watch as he grows and see what happens.
I think I may post pics of my others and get
some definates about them being P.maccus.

Thanks.

Achim · Post by **Achim** » 13 Feb 2003, 14:49

Hi Christina,

could you make a close-up photo of the mouth that we can see the teeth?
That way we could at least decide if it is a Panaque (according to Armbruster Panaqolus is a junior synonym of Panaque (2002 IEF13(1):88), imo its a matter of opinion whether one conciders that genus valid) or a Peckoltia. Looks more like one of those small Panaque from the P. dentex group to me, closely related to P. maccus and P. gnomus. Maybe just a colour variation.

Achim

Christina · Post by **Christina** » 13 Feb 2003, 15:20

I will attempt to get a good mouth shot later on today.

My cam is not the greatest, and I will have to put the plec in a jar to do the pic, as he's usually on either the gravel or driftwood. He's definately NOT a glass cleaner.

thx.

Christina · Post by **Christina** » 13 Feb 2003, 15:56

I highly doubt these pics are going to be of any help at all. My camera does not do good closeups. So its blurry, you can't see his teeth. Needless to say, he is not impressed with me. I will keep watching him to come to the front or side glass.

<br>

thanks for trying everyone.

Christina · Post by **Christina** » 13 Feb 2003, 15:58

oh, his size.
From tip to tip he is 2" (5cm)

Achim · Post by **Achim** » 13 Feb 2003, 16:17

Hi Christina,

like you mentioned yourself, its unfortunatly to blurry to say something for sure.
Nevertheless im pretty sure that this is a Panaque (Panaqolus) species.
At the moment there are 7 described species in the Panaque dentex group. Using the key Armbruster provided 2002, there are 3 possibilities: P. gnomus, P. maccus, P. changae. P changae has more bands in the dorsal and caudal fin (together with other differences...). The bars on the body of P. gnomus are angled in an anterodorsal to posteroventral direction. The bar like pattern of your fish runs in the opposite direction, which is true for P. maccus. However, like the others already mentioned, there are some differences to P. maccus. So imo the closest we can get (if this is a Panaque species) is P. cf. maccus. Either a colour variation or a closely related species.

Achim

Christina · Post by **Christina** » 13 Feb 2003, 16:23

Hi Achim, thank you once again.

I'm fairly confident as well of it being of the Panaque species.I will look through some photos of the types you spoke of and see if I can't find anything out. Meanwhile, I will keep hoping to get a good mouth shot.

Thanks alot.