medusa color options ?

Hi everyone,
Wonder if anyone knows if there are calico color medusa L034 or ones with stripe tails ? I thought they were all black , and here have seen the L34 with dots, so is there a variety in colors ? thanks Gerogie

I do not know of any colour variants but there is the L255 or Spotted Medusa Bristlenose which may be a variant of the L034.

Some L034 display a white flash on the end of the tail but I have not heard of any with striping.

there are def Ancistrus ranunculus with white spots like a peppermint bristlenose. there are also some that have white flashes on their body. there is a lot of debate as to if these are different species or just different morphs. Personally i would be leaning towards different species but as we dont have those beautiful cirtters down here in Aus i cant say

Most all of my wild madusas came in looking somewhat calico but darkened up as the stress went away. I'm not sure on this but I think in harder water they will show a more calico pattern. Again due to stress. I've also seen this in the L183 White Seam. As a general rule the darker the color the more they like soft water. The madusa also will like a good current and the happier they are the darker they stay.

I've seen 3 different colors for the madusa. The standard L034, the white spotted L255 (sometimes with white at the tips of their fins), and another white spotted version with strong blue tint. Unfortunately, I was unable to get my hands on the blue ones.

From what i no there are 2 diff species of medusa which has already been said the L034 and the L255.......they are classed as seperate ancistrus species....and both are on my most wanted list especially if they are wild caught..

ok, thanks so much everyone for the responses.. so I don't know what I have ... :roll:

here's what went down...I saw male and female black medusas (1 each) went home, mulled it over, loved their look, black ,remind me of ice cream cones , large head , short pointy body, so I called them ,wanting both, male onlyleft , paid on my debit ... store too far ,busy ,then flu,..2 or so weeks pass , they are holding for me , hubby picks it up. I was sick flu, acclimate, then just been feeding, did a wc/tank clean yesterday and this guy ain't solid black ,like the one i saw and not really seeing the short pointy body,,, called the place, said the new person may have given hubby the wrong one as both dont know anything about plecs...so now I got this guy...gonna get a pic anda post here afterspring break at my job, see what you all think ...either way ,, i will keep it ..but was in love with the medusa i saw ...ok thanks for help and look foward to your id him when i post in few weeks . He is still in q-tank for another week anyway,so during the move , I ll photo him. He gets to stay, can't give him back now...

new staff at lfs
:P

Georgie

If you could post a picture that would be great.

Some Medusas display a pattern of six regular white blotches placed symmetrically with three on each side, these blotches can dissapear when the fish is stressed. Others only have faint blotches and some, usually females, display extremely fine white spots, possibly the connection with the L255.

hi everyone , I did my homework before purchasing the ''medusa'', read as much as possible ...however......
thanks for all your responses and I am very concened I may have a common bn , which I know nothing about and concerned how big he will get as I have no idea ... I plan to keep him but really hoping he won't get huge.
This Fri he goes in the main tank after being q-tank 4 weeks. , and I have Spring break next week ,work at a school, no computer at home ,use work computer, but my nephew will post on his computer for me ...so when I move him Fri , I will take some pics, and nephew post for me . He has a striped tail, and what looks mottled or calico body, but when we post some pics ,I hope you all can tell me better what I have. Thanks again and glad you are here
PS- for prep sake and to lessen the shock--how big do commons get ?

Georgie

You can read the profile for the common BN (Ancistrus cf. Cirrhosus) HERE .


Medusas grow bigger then common BN's, on avarage a common will grow to about 5 inches/12cms.

Post your pictures when you have some and you will probably get a definate I.D.

thanks Jim,
from the pics, possibly a common, still not sure but I know the medusa has a very pointy end, whereas this guy , not really... .

and whew ! :o glad he won't get big if that's what I got...
will post pics next week ...many thanks for your advice and help we'll see what you guys think..., then I will have to decide what to do about my hubby picking up the wrong one , but he stays, well both of them stay

Georgie

I just hope you did not pay medusa prices for a common

Hi Jim,
thanks for your concern ,and if that is the case ,the store would give me a credit, they are great that way and want their customers satisfied...it's an aquarium only store ,so they have an investment in that way. I saw the medusas , male and female , went home and called them to hold the male , paid debit card-$22. I have watched their prices on all fancy plecs , and they get alot, with size variances, and have always thought the prices to be fair. The general price for a fancy L# seems to run about $45 , but some are lower/higher ,depending on the availability, I guess. The medusa were small when I saw them, and it was a few weeks before my husband could get there, ...wish I waited and gone myself ,but when he arrived home , I was sick and just concerned wtih acclimating him in the q-tank...I knew my ph matched the store cuz i called to ask them to test it, but i still gave the bn a good long acclimation time. Was'nt till i was feeling better that I got a good look and this was not the little black guy wtih pointy butt and became concerned...

so is $22 too much for a common IF that is what i have,?, still not sure cuz i am getting better viewings of him , and snapping pics, and definitely not small dots like i see in the pics, its for sure mottled and for sure a striped tail and fins... ok I am gonna be on spring break from work for a week as of a few hours :bounce: and I plan to rescape my main 54g corner tank ,and put the bn in there with the 2 blue phantoms. I will get some better pics of him at this week, and ask my nephew to post as I can't post pics off campus and no computer at home :roll:

thanks again for your concern and help

.. ps if the mottled coloring is from stress, i would be surprised as he has been in a 20g q-tank with 2 ''resident''platys to keep it running, and has plenty of wood , caves , rocks, and hidey places.It has a gravel bottom. Lots of water movement, 2 HOB 's and a hydra-sponge filter inside, and air stone too. He eats any veggie I put in there and seems to have teeth cuz big gouges missing from the veg, not rasping style marks left on veggies like my blues leave. sorry for long post .... trying to give as much info as possible till i can post the pics.

many thanks, Georgie
Georgie

sorry , It was spring break and we needed it as much as our students, so my time off work I did not get a chance to post , but I did transfer the bn to main tank and doing well. During the transfer , I got some pics, hope to post next week or week after ,perhaps you can tell me what he is.. mean time ,he seems to be doing well in main tank . Will let you all decide. thanks for patience... :roll:
Georgie