Stephen's 550L tank log:

[BigBen]

Mildred looks as though she/he has odontodes running down her body?

[Stephen]

Mildred looks as though she/he has odontodes running down her body?

Both males and females have them, I believe the male odontodes are a little more prominent.

[BigBen]

A pic of the female (?) Flash pleco on the aquarium glass taken today.
George is on the wood behind and below.
I think the mobile camera focused more on the wood behind.
(click to enlarge)


and on the bogwood, also taken today.
(click to enlarge)


more info about the Flash pleco, L204 (Panaqolus albivermis) available from Planet Catfish (Link)

Is this Mildred in the second picture? I'd say male if it is. No doubt about George though!

[Stephen]

Is this Mildred in the second picture? I'd say male if it is. No doubt about George though!

That is Mildred in the second image, I'm also leaning more towards male.

[Stephen]

I have also asked the question on PlanetCatfish

Should be a obvious shape difference from above between the sexes.

That's what one reply on PlanetCatfish said.
I need to take a photo from above, which means catching Mildred, I may attempt to catch Mildred tomorrow.
These plecos seem quite relaxed on the wood or glass but they can certainly move when they want to as in the video I made (and posted) of George back in July last year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13U17oC9fns

[Martinspuddle]

If Mildred is a male (which like you I've been thinking) are you going to try and purchase a female?

[Gingerlove05]

These plecos seem quite relaxed on the wood or glass but they can certainly move when they want to as in the video I made (and posted) of George back in July last year.

Yep they can
Sarah can definitely shift when she wants to, I have known her to hit the lid with some force when she’s been startled. Also after handling her to get her moved out of bucket a while back, you realise how powerful they are even for a fish bit shorter than 4”

[Stephen]

@plankton

I still get sciatica from time to time, but I know I still have two dodgy vertebrae.
The only way I can relieve it (together with painkillers) is to try and stretch my whole back, which is really difficult sometimes.
I'm normally out of action for about 3 days when it strikes.
Hope yours clears up quickly.

I have sciatica every day Ian, it starts mild around the home (I can cope with that) but as soon as I have walked over 10-20 meters it starts to get worse, the further I walk the worse it gets until I am in so much pain that I can not walk any further. It gets so bad that it feels like someone is pushing needles in to the side of my hips and the muscles in my legs are so tight they feel like rocks and are very painful.
It only gets that bad when I go to a large shopping centre such as the Merry Hill centre near Brierley Hill or the Trafford centre Manchester with the wife. I often sit outside the shops (for relief) whilst she has a browse inside. I have to sit often and lean forward to open up the vertebrae for relief.

I actually slept fairly well last night. I spoke to my brother-in-law who is a GP in Gloucester and he suggested anti-inflammatory medication may help, I have some ibuprofen in the cupboard so took some.
Painkillers have little or no effect, I've tried tramadol, meloxicam and others including morphine which do nothing except make me feel a little dopey so I gave up on them. Why take something that does nothing for the pain but make you feel dopey, the pain is still the same?
I think I reported that my back went 3 weeks ago and that I was unable to do any water changes or anything. That was like having one or two slipped discs on top of the normal difficulties. It lasted a good 7 days and took almost another 7 days to sort itself out, the second week was quite sore but getting better as each day past.

I completely understand and empathize with you Ian.

[Andys temperate tank]

How's your leg @Stephen?

If mildred is a male im sure you could accommodate another flash pleco until two formed a pair.

[Stephen]

If Mildred is a male (which like you I've been thinking) are you going to try and purchase a female?

If Mildred is male then getting a female will be asking for trouble (in my eyes) with two males.
I am thinking that if Mildred is male then to sell one of them (whichever the buyer prefers) and then get a female or even swap for a female.
Both are lovely plecos and getting rid of one (if both are male) will be a bit upsetting as we've got attached to them (and named them) but I have to be realistic.
The 550L aquarium is very peaceful.

When the Cupid cichlids get more mature and start pairing up then I am willing to re-home the "billy no mates" from the group, the LFS that supplied them will take them.
I am also looking for a Spoon Face Whiptail (Planiloricaria cryptodon) for this aquarium.
I am currently a little under 100% stocked and with plenty of filtration when all the fish are fully grown, so room for a whiptail or two in the future.