What L number is this ancistrus?

[Rush2112]

I purchased some nice white seam plecos and a few of these other ancistrus came with them. They are black with tiny white spots and white tips on a slightly forked tail. Anyone know what they are?

Gino

[cichlidguy]

They look like my L100.


-John

[CanadaPleco]

check the spines on the white seams you got, most of the time they are not L183 which have 8 or 9 spines. There's a few species that have "white seams" but are not.

The ones you posted pics of sure look a lot like my L100's also though. I'd have to agree with John on those. Any idea of collection spot on them? Hard to tell for sure on them too :S Such a crazy species, so many that looks so similar.

[Rush2112]

Hi guys,

Thanks for your help. I'm 100% sure they are not L183 white seams. They don't have signs indicating true white seams. They don't have the correct number of spines, they don't show any seam except the very pronounced white tipped tail and they have a broader head region.

I'm trying to confirm what they actually are. Unfortunately, I don't know what river they originated from.

Gino

[Katalyst]

Hey Gino,

Have you looked into L182's? They look just like mine from the photo's.

[Zebrapl3co]

I agreed with Kate, they look very much like an L182 as well. But definately fully mature though, at least 3+ years old.

[jackson]

I am having the same problem I have a few trios of ancistrus and have no idea how to get the proper ID. I have posted pix of PC and PF with no luck.

I agree with the above they look just like L-182's

How big are they?

[CanadaPleco]

The guys at PF are WAY WAY better in my experience with ID's. Try plecos.com also, that is Barbies forum shes got a few members there that are also quite good at ID's

[Rush2112]

I have L182's to compare them to. The L182's are quite a bit bigger, not as dark black and don't have the pronounced white tip extensions on the tail as these.

The fellow I bought them from said they were L183's. I also have L183's and they are not those. After much research and questions posed on various sites, I think they could be L370's but i'm still not certain. All I can say is they are very nice plecos. I have 7 and I'll probably keep some and sell the rest. I want to focus on the L183's.

Thanks everyone for helping with this.
Gino

[jackson]

If you dont mind LMK when you want to sell some of the unknowns :)

[Katalyst]

The bigger mine get the less I am seeing of the white tip. My adult 182's have lost their seams completely.

[Charles]

I am pretty sure they are L182. I have a dozen or so of those and they will lose the color and go pitch black as they grow. I have some adults at 7-8"...

As for the L183, many have claimed that they all have the real L183 and almost always shipped as something else.

[Rush2112]

Charles,

Yes. The L182's get that big. These plecos max out at 4 inches tops!

Gino

[Charles]

Gino:

How do they know they maxed out at 4" tops if you are not sure about the variant?

[Rush2112]

Hi Charles:

The guy I bought them from kept them for some time and he thought they were fulll grown white seam L183's. They are not white seams... for sure... 100% ...no doubt!. I'm uncertain if they will grow bigger whatever they are. The males seem mature.

Gino