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[Finnegan@large]

Here is a shot of my Hypancistrus sp. (L236) zebra plecs.  It is a difficult tank to photograph, but you can begin to see their coloration here.

[rm-slover]

are these your fry? if so sweet! theyre really cool and really expensive. there was a guy at the gcca who was breeding them and selling them at the swaps for $200 each at 1 inch.

i have a hard time photographing my BN fry as well.

[Finnegan@large]

They are about 3 inches at the moment.  They should be breeding soon.

[rm-slover]

besides a breeding group costing a mortgage payment, how hard are they to keep? with water paramaters and the like?

[Finnegan@large]

Here are some better pics.  Getting a little more light down in between everything helped.

PlanetCatfish has a useful profile of them that explains parameters:
http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=969

So far, conditioned water out of the tap has been fine.

[Finnegan@large]

... and one more.

[rm-slover]

this isnt a zebra pleco - i didnt think it was becaue of the coloring, there is too much black and not enough white. also Zebra Pleco's are L046.

the L236 is still undescribed.

[Finnegan@large]

L46 is a zebra hypancistrus with the specific designation Hypancistrus zebra.

L236 is also one of the zebra hypancistrus commonly referred to as zebra plecos along with others such as L098, L173, L316, L287, L345, & L270.

[rm-slover]

it looks similar to a clown pleco than a zebra pleco. i'm also sure this species was a whole lot cheaper then the L046.

[Finnegan@large]

This species is, for the most part, harder to find than L46. 
What is the basis for your assumptions about this fish? 

(1)  IME, juveniles go for between $75.00 and $150.00 each.  "Zebraplecos," in Germany, has them up on Aquabid occasionally, and is one of very few breeding them regularly. 

(2)  Also, as far as color goes, this fish changes color constantly (it is very photo-sensitive).  Within a moment, they will go from "white on black" to "black on white."  Also, a fluctuation between a snow-white versus cream coloring takes place.  What you see here is just a brief snap shot of life in an otherwise dark tank.  I just removed the black substrate, against which their contrast was quite remarkable.
     
     This is a Hypancistrus, not a Panaque (like clowns).  Spawning this fish is much like L46, although I have been advised to raise water temps (as high as 86F if possible).  Like other zebra-type hypancistrus, these are carnivores... and somewhat picky carnivores at that.  I started preparing my own shrimp mix for them, with which they seem to be doing well on.

     Anyway, my intent is to share some pics of a very rare fish that I have been working with.  If you don't like what I have shared, move on to the next thread.  If you want to learn more, try to find $ome, grow them out, and talk to people who have worked with them.

[sawboy]

 

[madeto]

Where did you get yours? From that "Zebraplecos" guy on Aquabid?

[Finnegan@large]

Mine are from Larry Vires

[Finnegan@large]

By the way, after only being able to post pictures of my fish in a dark, blotchy, and not-quite astounding state, I wanted to share this shot of the 'archetype' of this species... what they look like when mature and happy.



-->Picture referred to in the following thread:
http://www.plecofanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9873

[Dragonkeeper]

Awesome looking fish. I wish I could afford a couple!