Weird little L-14. . . seen anything like him?

[wataugachicken]

I got this little guy in a shipment with 3 other L-14 goldy plecos, but he looks quite a bit different. is this a normal mutation? no pictures like it on planetcatfish, but then it's not like he's representative of the species as it is.

the top pic is a "normal" patterned goldy, while the bottom pic is my weird guy. both are my fish.

[Rbishop]

Maybe it's age has something to do with it or the physical maturity level?

[wataugachicken]

both of them came in at the same size. they are the same in length now too, but the 'normal' one is bulkier as you can see. the weird one was pretty skinny and beaten up when he came in. i didn't think he would make it actually - very hollow and bony - but i put him in a dirty old planted tank and he chowed down on algae and leftover shrimp pellets and healed up very well. the only thing left is a little split in his tail. i wonder if, because he is slightly different, he was not able to compete against the others very well. that part makes me think he might even be a different species, which i know is crazy talk, because i haven't found anything with scribbly lines and yellow fins.

and the pics on planetcatfish all show single-spotted fish, no change in pattern from juvie to adult except yellow color loss on the fins. and the spots stay the same size though the fish gets bigger.

[Rbishop]

Weird. Keep a good pictorial journal on both. It could be interesting.

[nguyendetecting]

looks like a different species to me also. Very nice looking though. His white spot patterns are larger and looks very sharp.

[Malefic23]

His spots are actually yellow, he's just hiding in the dark. I'll try to get some better pictures of Wata's little mutant goldy soon.

[AnDr3w]

Wow really cool! Got little squiggles on him. GL!

[bushwhacker]

either a diff sp. or a mutant but those are not the same fish

[jpappy789]

Have you asked around on planetcatfish?

[Barbie]

Pattern differences don't usually make different species, IME. His shape is the same, his coloration is the same, just the spots are elongated. These fish change pattern as they grow normally. The orange fins and bright white spots change to an even yellow spotting over most of the fish. If the fish still looks considerably different next year, he could safely be considered a sport or mutant coloration, but there is a lot of variation in plecos when it comes to the way the patterns evolve. Here's a picture of a mature male.

http://plecos.com/gallery/albums/userpics/normal_Goldie.jpg

He's a lovely specimen. Congratulations! Definitely post his pictures at planet catfish, if you would. It's hard to tell from that picture how the trim color looks in his finnage. How fast he grows will also be a good indicator of whether they are similar species. I went looking through a few of my pictures and I have one goldie with elongated spots here and there, but not all over his body like that one.

http://plecos.com/gallery/albums/userpics/normal_L14.jpg

Barbie

[PuppyFluffer]

Man he is really cute!!!

[fishorama]

Interesting, kinda like freckles, some have heavier spots than others. It'll be neat to see how he grows.

[wataugachicken]

i got four and only sold one of them. i think that one was normal. the third one (not pictured) looks like barbie's second pic, a couple double spots here and there, but mostly single spots. when i get better pics, they'll go up here and at planetcatfish.

[crashlee916]

cute plecos!!!! I need to start movin up from common plecos, they are boring :(

[Dexmaster]

cute plecos!!!! I need to start movin up from common plecos, they are boring :(


Yes they are blah I have been trying to pick what I want for so long I havent even picked one they are all so beautiful

[Lupin]

So this is the Scobinancistrus aureatus, my favorite pleco.:hearts: