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Royal Pleco 2-3"

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Royal Pleco 2-3"

🐟 Royal Pleco Care Sheet

🔹 Overview

Category Details
Scientific Name Panaque nigrolineatus
Common Name Royal Pleco, Royal Panaque
L-Number Usually L190 (other variants exist)
Origin Amazon Basin (Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru)
Adult Size 33–43 cm (13–17 in)
Lifespan 10–15+ years
Temperament Generally peaceful; territorial with other large plecos
Tank Level Bottom

🔹 Tank Setup

Parameter Ideal Range
Tank Size 300–450 liters (75–120+ gallons) minimum
Temperature 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
pH 6.2–7.5
Hardness Soft to medium (2–15 dGH)
Substrate Sand or smooth gravel
Decor Driftwood is essential; rocks, caves
Lighting Low
Filtration Very strong filtration; high oxygen; heavy waste producer

Care Notes:

  • Wood-eater species — requires constant access to driftwood for digestion and beak maintenance.

  • Produces a lot of waste; oversized filtration recommended.

  • Needs plenty of shaded areas and stable, clean water.


🔹 Diet

  • Type: Herbivore / xylivore (wood-eating)

  • Primary Foods: Driftwood (must always be present), algae wafers, spirulina wafers

  • Supplemental Foods: Vegetables (zucchini, cucumber, sweet potato), some plant-based pellets

  • Feeding Frequency: Daily


🔹 Behavior & Compatibility

  • Peaceful toward most fish.

  • Territorial against other large plecos or wood-eating species.

  • Slow-moving and calm; not aggressive but stands its ground.


🧭 Tank Mate Guide

Compatible Species

  • Peaceful large fish (Severums, Geophagus, Angelfish)

  • Larger tetras

  • Rainbowfish

  • Other non-competitive bottom dwellers

  • Community fish too small to bother it

⚠️ Avoid

  • Other Royal/Panaque plecos (territorial conflicts)

  • Very aggressive cichlids

  • Fish that may outcompete for food

  • Tanks without heavy filtration


🐣 Breeding Info

  • Difficulty: Extremely rare in home aquariums

  • Method: Cave spawner

  • Requirements: Very large tank, perfect water quality, high oxygen, large caves

  • Notes: Mostly bred in specialized facilities, not hobby tanks.


🌿 Fun Facts

  • Known for its striped armor plates and massive muscular body.

  • One of the few aquarium fish that digests wood, thanks to gut bacteria.

  • Can live well over a decade with proper care.

Please note We don't ship live animals. You can order online and choose click and collect and we will hold it for you.

$70.07
Royal Pleco 2-3"
$70.07

Product Information

Shipping & Returns

Description

🐟 Royal Pleco Care Sheet

🔹 Overview

Category Details
Scientific Name Panaque nigrolineatus
Common Name Royal Pleco, Royal Panaque
L-Number Usually L190 (other variants exist)
Origin Amazon Basin (Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru)
Adult Size 33–43 cm (13–17 in)
Lifespan 10–15+ years
Temperament Generally peaceful; territorial with other large plecos
Tank Level Bottom

🔹 Tank Setup

Parameter Ideal Range
Tank Size 300–450 liters (75–120+ gallons) minimum
Temperature 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
pH 6.2–7.5
Hardness Soft to medium (2–15 dGH)
Substrate Sand or smooth gravel
Decor Driftwood is essential; rocks, caves
Lighting Low
Filtration Very strong filtration; high oxygen; heavy waste producer

Care Notes:

  • Wood-eater species — requires constant access to driftwood for digestion and beak maintenance.

  • Produces a lot of waste; oversized filtration recommended.

  • Needs plenty of shaded areas and stable, clean water.


🔹 Diet

  • Type: Herbivore / xylivore (wood-eating)

  • Primary Foods: Driftwood (must always be present), algae wafers, spirulina wafers

  • Supplemental Foods: Vegetables (zucchini, cucumber, sweet potato), some plant-based pellets

  • Feeding Frequency: Daily


🔹 Behavior & Compatibility

  • Peaceful toward most fish.

  • Territorial against other large plecos or wood-eating species.

  • Slow-moving and calm; not aggressive but stands its ground.


🧭 Tank Mate Guide

Compatible Species

  • Peaceful large fish (Severums, Geophagus, Angelfish)

  • Larger tetras

  • Rainbowfish

  • Other non-competitive bottom dwellers

  • Community fish too small to bother it

⚠️ Avoid

  • Other Royal/Panaque plecos (territorial conflicts)

  • Very aggressive cichlids

  • Fish that may outcompete for food

  • Tanks without heavy filtration


🐣 Breeding Info

  • Difficulty: Extremely rare in home aquariums

  • Method: Cave spawner

  • Requirements: Very large tank, perfect water quality, high oxygen, large caves

  • Notes: Mostly bred in specialized facilities, not hobby tanks.


🌿 Fun Facts

  • Known for its striped armor plates and massive muscular body.

  • One of the few aquarium fish that digests wood, thanks to gut bacteria.

  • Can live well over a decade with proper care.

Please note We don't ship live animals. You can order online and choose click and collect and we will hold it for you.

Royal Pleco 2-3" | Newlands Garden Centre