My puzzling pleco's

[chefjamesscott]

Hello all,

I was at the petsmart last night getting some rosie red minnows and my son happened to point out to me some albino plecos. He was very interested in why they had vibrant red eyes.

I was able to buy 5 of the 9 that they had. I took some time to take a really good look at them just to make sure they were not juvi bristlenose.

They lack any side barbs or nose barbs so I am pretty sure that they are not bristlenose. They look like albino common pleco's, unless there is another type of pleco that comes in albino. I will be going back to get the other 4 after work tonight. Are these commons or what type?

Here are 3 pics that I took last night

edit: i did some looking about and think I got these
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=16+1911&aid=2225

 

[ODPILOT]

The eyes of the albino fish are lacking pigment, just as is the rest of the skin and fins. The red in eyes is light being reflected off the light sensitive retina in the back of the eye. The retina contains red blood and red blood vessels that reflect any incoming light back out. Just like if you had a red eye photo of yourself in a picture where a flash was used. In a NON albino fish, there is pigment on the outside of the eye and in the retina, which prevents this red eye appearance.

 

[chefjamesscott]

The eyes of the albino fish are lacking pigment, just as is the rest of the skin and fins. The red in eyes is light being reflected off the light sensitive retina in the back of the eye. The retina contains red blood and red blood vessels that reflect any incoming light back out. Just like if you had a red eye photo of yourself in a picture where a flash was used. In a NON albino fish, there is pigment on the outside of the eye and in the retina, which prevents this red eye appearance.

Let me ask are you saying these are not albino? I took pics of 3 of 5 that I have just to give a look at 3 of them the 1 of 5 does have some skin pigment.

If this fish is not an albino then I am shocked, because this one has no pigment and very red eyes.

 

[My_Goldie]

No I believe he is saying that they are indeed albino, because in NON albino fish there are pigments in the eye that prevent the red eye look. And yours definitely have the red eyes.

 

[chefjamesscott]

cool because these are the strangest plecos I have ever come across

I sometimes find fish that I just know NOT NORMAL so I buy them, but these guys I had to put an id thread on to get your thoughts.

 

[GEV83]

Look like albino chocolate pleco's. We carry them alot out here. I prefer the look of albino Gibby's more but get way to big for my tanks right now.

 

[GEV83]

Reg Gibbiceps

Albino Gibbiceps

Albino Chocolate

Albino chocolate come in many shades amazingly albino gibbys are either yellow or white which are rare I dont think they normally live long.

 

[GEV83]

Oh be aware that the albino chocolate is if im not mistaken a Pterygoplichthys scrophus better known as a Rhino Pleco and can obtain a size of 12". Make sure you got enough space for these guys. Also be aware that pleco's from this family grow more and more territorial with age. When small they could be kept in groups but when there big they should be kept in small numbers or solo. If in small numbers then have large numbers of hiding places plenty of driftwood which they love also food placed at various parts of the tank so they all can get there fare share.

 

[DavidZ]

What is that he is munching on?

 

[clayt101]

Looks like an albino gibby to me. That is my favorite fish in my tank. Mine is 3 years old and about 10 inches long. He grew to 10 inches in about a year, and ten stopped. Can I ask how much it was?