For those of you who have followed my threads about my bottom feeder Gerald over the last couple of days might be sorry to hear, as I was, that it turns out he isn't a Blue Eyed Pleco after all.

It appears that he is, in fact, a Glyptoperichthys Scrophus (Common Name: Alligator Pleco, Chocolate Pleco, Rhino Pleco). Apparently the eyes are bluish due to cataracts. This is usually caused by overdosing with powerful medications.

Oh well, you learn something new every day. Prefer what I thought i'd learned on Saturday though.

Still, Gerald is a fine speciem nonetheeless.

I was having a hard time trying to figure out which fish you were talking about.
I take it, it was the fish that someone else posted for you? If i had known then I wouldve said the eyes were cloudy as the blue eyed plec has vivid blue eyes.

Sorry your plec has cataracts though, can he still see his food ok?

No it was the one I posted on Saturday that had suddenly turned aggressive. Se the thread in this section. You actually sent me a couple of replies.

As to his sight he seemed to see the gold fish okay when he was chasing them around the tank before I moved him to another one so I'm assuming it's okay.

For some reason on saturday i just couldnt see any pics that you put up so I was really confused as to why everyone was commenting on them.
But yes, you can clearly see the cataracts on his eyes. Isnt he lovely though!

He is lovely and the fact that he's not the rarity we initially thought doesn't change that one iota.

He still has elevated status in this house and will be treated like a king from now on!

Aww too bad. I'm still glad you kept him...and he's still a cutie no matter what species he is.

Sandy, in order to see the pic, I copied and pasted the link to the address bar, leaving out the img tags.

Ah! clever Kissy - stoopid Sandy

ah no it took a few tries actually

Blue-eye or not, he's one royal blue-blooded pleco for me

I still like him too! How's he doing in his own tank now? I hope he likes it well enough

Oh and Kissy it took me a couple of times to figure it out too!

He's still really cute! Have his eyes always been like that? I wonder if maybe the sudden rise in chasing was sight related. I've heard of dogs that are blind in one eye that will snap if you sneak up on that side because they become more defensive and can't see that it's you. Maybe he can't really see the goldies and thinks they're something threatening?

Thanks D, that's exactly how I feel!

He seems to be doing okay but, being the sentimental fool that I am, I wonder whether he's lonely. Anyway, once he gets settled I'll get him some companions. Probably Tetras or Mollies or the like.

Because I didn't know what he was until I came across you guys he's not sure what to make of the Cucumber or Zuccinni I've tried but he definitely likes the Algae Wafers. I guess it's a whole new ball-game for the pair of us.

Anyway regardless of him not being a prized Blue Eyed I'm now treating him like he is!

Interesting point Imber. To be perfectly honest I can't remember if his eyes have always been like that but they certainly have been for a while so I'm not really sure where the sudden chasing of the Goldfish came from. But ironically if that hadn't started I would never have discovered you guys. So at least I now know what he is and can make up for depriving him of goodies like veggies and wafers.

Have to be honest I feel pretty stupid about the whole thing but I guess it proves the point that you do live and learn. At least occasionly!