pleco colour

Morning all,

Please can someone advise why a pleco would change colour? Situation is like this;

I got 2 from the same LFS about 6 months ago - practically identical, both almost black in colour (see first picture). They have been in the tank with a bunch of tetras and mollies for a while and their colour has been consistent.

My daughter recently started a guppie tank and I moved one of the pleco's in there, and it has changed to a much lighter brown (2nd picture). Is also growing noticeably faster than the other one.
Feeding, water specs, water changes, etc is the same for both tanks. Filter / bacteria for new tank was 'seeded' from the main tank. The only real difference is that the 1st tank has black gravel and the guppy tank has white gravel.

So, why would it change colour? and should I be worried?
Lastly, I think that these are Common Plecos - can anyone confirm this?

 

I think the reason why it changed color is to blend in with it's suroundings. Seeing that these guys grow huge I will suggest that you rather return them to the lfs and swop for ancistrus which will do a better job and cleaning the tank and they will stay way smaller

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Agreed with Pierre. Many fish are able to lighten or darken their colour to some degree to blend in to their surrounds. Some can change patterns and hue to a larger degree, e.g. cichlids.

I am also in agreement about the fish tank size and Plecos - the common variety you have there grow very large and will outgrow the tanks. Ancistrus (bristle noses), Otocinclus (Ottos) and a few others stay smaller and do the same job. Unfortunately Plecos are the go-to for algae duty and they're really not the best option if you care for their well-being, and most fish shops will not tell you this.

 

Hi there.

You dont have to worry about anything, Personally I think Plecos change within their surroundings, they're bottom dwellers and are vulnerable to other fish, (not saying you're housing anything dangerous for the little guy) but I'm sure you catch the drift.

I have a malawi setup with a BN pleco that was pitch black the day I bought her, about a month later she was half the colour from when I bought her home, I bought her other tank mate as well which was identical and put her in my community tank and she didn't change at all, she is still pitch black

I think it's just a territorial thing amongst the plecs. I could be wrong.

But I say there's absolutely nothing to be worried about.

Good luck!



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Thanks for all the replies. Glad to hear all is well.

Will take the combined advice and return to the LFS and replace with BN.

 

My pleco goes lighter when she's stressed.