Plecos... what is the difference

[johns51]

OK I am confused with the difference if there is one between bushy nosed and bristled nose plecos. I go to one LFS and I see bushy nose, go to another and see bristled nose but to me they look to be the same pleco.

Is there a difference or is it just the difference of what people call them?

John

 

[Andrew]

In fish stores these are all likely to be the same thing if they are priced at $10 or less. These are "common" brown Ancistrus and are being produced commercially now as an alternative to other algae eating plecos.

Of course, there are probably 300 species of ancistrus, most of them undescribed. Most of these non "common" Ancistrus will be wild caught and cost at least $20 each.

 

[johns51]

These are all below $10 and only get to 5 inches.

Kind of figured they were the same but one place says no they are different and another says they are the same.