How to tell the sex of L134?

**sthh** · 26th Aug 2009, 10:36

I got this L134 pleco for nearly 9months now, and is thinking of getting a mate for it. I don't know whether this one is a male or female.
How do you sex a pleco? Are L134 territorial, and would they tolerate other L134s? Thanks in advance.

**johannes** · 26th Aug 2009, 11:23

looks female from body shape.

if both flank is not hairy, confirm female.

**khtee** · 26th Aug 2009, 11:58

Look female to me too. Maybe you want to take a close up pics to confirm. Take pic of the top also.

**sthh** · 26th Aug 2009, 21:00

I will try to take a top picture. But this is one very elusive tank inhabitant, and has dug 2 caves near my bogwood.

**genes** · 26th Aug 2009, 21:36

Both males and females for this specie hide in caves. And males do not have long odontodes growth on their cheek. Instead, a male have a hairy tail area where the odontodes grow.

**sthh** · 26th Aug 2009, 22:17

Originally Posted by genes

Both males and females for this specie hide in caves. And males do not have long odontodes growth on their cheek. Instead, a male have a hairy tail area where the odontodes grow.

Thanks Genes. I think mine is a girl. Don't see anything hairy or odontodes-like on the cheek or the tail area. Will try to take a picture of the top.

I will now be looking out for a male in the lfs that has a hairy tail area where the odontodes grow. Do the young males show that or would that only show on a mature male?

**johannes** · 26th Aug 2009, 23:15

the lower flank odontodes are present in mature and well conditioned males

**sthh** · 27th Aug 2009, 10:18

Originally Posted by johannes

the lower flank odontodes are present in mature and well conditioned males

This is going to be challenging. All the L134 I see in LFS are small juveniles.
Thanks

**barmby** · 27th Aug 2009, 11:11

From these posts, I realise I have many males!! Anyway, sthh, you may need to wait another 2 years for her to be ready. L134 take a long time to reach sexual maturity. But...once they mate and spawn, it makes you feel that this fish is easy to breed. Because they keep breeding!!

Patience!