Mystery "gold" Hypancistrus

I know I am most likely in the wrong section.
But I have just bought as a "gold form" of a hypancistrus. But they could not tell me what sort.
So if anybody has any idea what it is or a L number that would really be cool.
Looks like a perky little fish.
Just one note he has two rows of tiny spines that run what seems to be along the lateral line from the head down . Also he has a narrower and pointier head then a bristlenose and definetly no bristles of any kind.
Thanks in advance
Marty

I have more pictures if it would help.

Looks like a chocolate pleco. It's a colour morph of the common pleco. They get to around 2ft in length so I hope you have the tank space

kfenk wrote:

Looks like a chocolate pleco. It's a colour morph of the common pleco. They get to around 2ft in length so I hope you have the tank space

You're kidding !!!!
Looks like I have been sold something that is not right. They told me at the shop he gets to about 15cm tops.
Also just read that they devour plants. No evidence yet but it might happen.
Marty
Here is another picture of the body. Hopefully it might have been misidentified.
(Wishfull thinking, I guess!!)

Well the mystery deepens. I have just looked up the profile of the chocolate pleco on Planet Catfish and the say that they have two horn like projections on their nose. This one definetly does not.
Now I am really lost. I have already abused the poor girl at the LFS, I hope I was not wrong.
HELP !!!!!!!!


No Horns

They call Rhino plecs chocolate plecos overseas, but here in aus our description of chocolate pleco is for the colour morph of the common pleco (as I stated above). Here's a pleco guide I found that might help http://board.fishchannel.com/Topic165549-42-1.aspx

kfenk wrote:

They call Rhino plecs chocolate plecos overseas, but here in aus our description of chocolate pleco is for the colour morph of the common pleco (as I stated above). Here's a pleco guide I found that might help http://board.fishchannel.com/Topic165549-42-1.aspx

Great guide Thank you;
But he is not not a Rhino/Chocolate pleco after that description on the guide.
I have done some more research. Could be a color morph of a zombie pleco L070.
It would fit the description in the store Hypancistrus Sp.
Hmmmmmmm !!!!
Marty

kfenk wrote:

They call Rhino plecs chocolate plecos overseas, but here in aus our description of chocolate pleco is for the colour morph of the common pleco (as I stated above). Here's a pleco guide I found that might help http://board.fishchannel.com/Topic165549-42-1.aspx

You are 100 % right (shame I can't give 10 thank you points). It is a color morph of the common pleco, the dorsal fin spines gave him away.
Going back to the shop on Monday.
I can't believe I have fallen into this trap after all these years keeping fish.
There should be a licencing system for tank busters such as the comon pleco. It is cruel to the fish and bad for the hobby.
Marty

Yeah no worries, we all make mistakes. As much as we'd like for LFS workers to give us the best advice on the fish we are buying. But the problem is they don't know everything and it's up to us to do the research. You should find some nice dwarf plecos. Pick what you fancy off of planetcatfish and make your order. Another really stunning plec is the L200 or even L134. Both easy enough for you to get your hands on judging by your ease of acquiring your flash pleco

kfenk wrote:

Yeah no worries, we all make mistakes. As much as we'd like for LFS workers to give us the best advice on the fish we are buying. But the problem is they don't know everything and it's up to us to do the research. You should find some nice dwarf plecos. Pick what you fancy off of planetcatfish and make your order. Another really stunning plec is the L200 or even L134. Both easy enough for you to get your hands on judging by your ease of acquiring your flash pleco

Thank you, I will have a look out for them. Especially the L200 looks great and would fit in nicely.
I will have a talk to my LFS tomorrow when I take back the Common / Chocolate pleco.
Thanks again for all your help.
Marty