CanadaPleco
11-07-2006, 09:28 PM
**** Info taken from Judazzz @ http://www.piranha-fury.com/pfury/index.php?showtopic=37652
Name: Panaque nigolineatus
Synonyms: Cochliodon nigrolineatus, Chaetostomus nigrolineatus
Common Names: Royal Pleco, Royal catfish
Family: Loricariidae (Armored catfishes)
Subfamily: Ancistrinae
Order: Siluriformes (catfish)
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Max size: in captivity 43.0 cm (17") SL (male/unsexed; Ref. 36713), possibly larger (60cm, 24") in the wild.
pH: pH 6.5 - 7.5
Temp: 72-79°F (20-28°C)
Distribution: Orinoco Basin, Orinoco tributaries, and Amazonas Basin, southern Middle and Lower Amazonas tributaries.
http://www.piranha-fury.com/photopost/data/3158/199p_nigrolineatus_03.jpg
http://www.piranha-fury.com/photopost/data/3158/199p_nigrolineatus_04.jpg
http://www.piranha-fury.com/photopost/data/3158/199p_nigrolineatus_05.jpg
http://www.piranha-fury.com/photopost/data/3158/199p_nigrolineatus_07.jpg
*above pic taken from: www.piranha-info.com (http://www.piranha-info.com/)
The strikingly patterned Royal Pleco is still a pretty rare sight in home aquariums, and although they have become more readily available in the last years, they are still sold for high prices.
The Royal pleco is found throughout Amazonian South America, and a few regional varieties exist, which vary in color, pattern and finnage.
The most common variant is the "true" Royal Pleco, also known as L190, which has a stripey, greenish pattern.
Other variants are the Gold Line Royal Pleco (Panaque cf. nigrolineatus: L027, L027c) with yellow pattern, Watermelon Pleco (Panaque sp: L027a, L330) with a dotted instead of striped pattern, Panaque sp. cf. nigrolineatus(1) (L027b), and the Dull-eyed Royal pleco (Panaque sp: L191).
It's still unknown wheter these fish are the same species or not.
It's a known fact many pleco's require drift wood in there tank, and the same applies to the members of the genus Panaque. They actually eat the wood, and for that reason, Royal Pleco's are extremely messy fish that require a well-filtered tank. Because of their large potential size, a large tank is necessary as well, although they are known to be slow growers.
Other than wood, Royal pleco's eat pellets, fresh vegetables (such as spinach, lettuce, potato, zucchini, peas, cucumber, etc.), shrimp and other meaty foods.
http://www.piranha-fury.com/photopost/data/3158/199L190_01.jpg
http://www.piranha-fury.com/photopost/data/3158/199L190_04.jpg
http://www.piranha-fury.com/photopost/data/3158/199L190_06.jpg
http://www.piranha-fury.com/photopost/data/3158/199L190_07.jpg
*above pic taken from: www.piranha-info.com (http://www.piranha-info.com/)
Although planetcatfish characterises this species as shy, secretive, and for a good part nocturnal, my personal experiences with this fish are quite different: my juvenile Royal Pleco is the single-most active and outgoing pleco I have ever had. Usually just minding his own business, it can be pretty quarrelsome during feeding time or when lacking personal space, and can show signs of agression especially towards the other bottom-dwelling fish in his tank.
Tank mates should be chosen with some care: Royal Pleco's have been known to latch onto slow-moving fish like Discus (probably because of the nutritious skin excretion they use to feed their young).
This fish is pretty undemanding as far as water quality and decor goes: pH should be somewhere between 6,5-7,5, water temperature is standard tropical, and a powerhead will be appreciated, to mimick the fast-flowing river in their native habitat. As said, a powerful filtration system is necessary to cope with the large amounts of waste this fish produces (even more when it's staple diet is wood, which results in a large amount of undigestable matter being released).
Plants can be used in the tank, but Royals have been known to strip plants bare in no-time. Drift wood provides food as well as a shady retreat for the day-time hours, and rocks can offer additional hiding places.
For futher reading, try the following links
- www.fishbase.org (http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?ID=12216&genusname=Panaque&speciesname=nigrolineatus)
- www.planetcatfish.com Catfish of the Month (http://www.planetcatfish.com/cotm/1999-05.htm)
- www.catfish.com (http://www.catfish.com) factsheets:
L027 'Rio Tapajos', Golden Line Royal Pleco profile (http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/loricari/panaque/1304_f.php)
L027/L027c 'Rio Tocantins', Platinum Royal Pleco profile (http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/loricari/panaque/993_f.php)
L027/L027c/LDA63 'Rio Xingu', Longnosed Royal Pleco, Red Fin Royal Pleco profile (http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/loricari/panaque/891_f.php)
L027b, Olive Royal Pleco, Teles Pires Royal Pleco profile (http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/loricari/panaque/994_f.php)
L190 Royal Pleco profile (http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/loricari/panaque/151_f.php)
L191 Dull Eyed Royal Pleco profile (http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/loricari/panaque/642_f.php)
L330 Watermelon (Royal) Pleco profile (http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/loricari/panaque/337_f.php)- www.aquahobby.com Info and testimonials (http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/gpanaque.html)
- www.welse.net Article (german) (http://www.welse.net/seiten/nigrolin.htm)
- www.malawicichlidhomepage.com Info sheet (http://www.malawicichlidhomepage.com/aquainfo/royal_pleco_group.html)
Name: Panaque nigolineatus
Synonyms: Cochliodon nigrolineatus, Chaetostomus nigrolineatus
Common Names: Royal Pleco, Royal catfish
Family: Loricariidae (Armored catfishes)
Subfamily: Ancistrinae
Order: Siluriformes (catfish)
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Max size: in captivity 43.0 cm (17") SL (male/unsexed; Ref. 36713), possibly larger (60cm, 24") in the wild.
pH: pH 6.5 - 7.5
Temp: 72-79°F (20-28°C)
Distribution: Orinoco Basin, Orinoco tributaries, and Amazonas Basin, southern Middle and Lower Amazonas tributaries.
http://www.piranha-fury.com/photopost/data/3158/199p_nigrolineatus_03.jpg
http://www.piranha-fury.com/photopost/data/3158/199p_nigrolineatus_04.jpg
http://www.piranha-fury.com/photopost/data/3158/199p_nigrolineatus_05.jpg
http://www.piranha-fury.com/photopost/data/3158/199p_nigrolineatus_07.jpg
*above pic taken from: www.piranha-info.com (http://www.piranha-info.com/)
The strikingly patterned Royal Pleco is still a pretty rare sight in home aquariums, and although they have become more readily available in the last years, they are still sold for high prices.
The Royal pleco is found throughout Amazonian South America, and a few regional varieties exist, which vary in color, pattern and finnage.
The most common variant is the "true" Royal Pleco, also known as L190, which has a stripey, greenish pattern.
Other variants are the Gold Line Royal Pleco (Panaque cf. nigrolineatus: L027, L027c) with yellow pattern, Watermelon Pleco (Panaque sp: L027a, L330) with a dotted instead of striped pattern, Panaque sp. cf. nigrolineatus(1) (L027b), and the Dull-eyed Royal pleco (Panaque sp: L191).
It's still unknown wheter these fish are the same species or not.
It's a known fact many pleco's require drift wood in there tank, and the same applies to the members of the genus Panaque. They actually eat the wood, and for that reason, Royal Pleco's are extremely messy fish that require a well-filtered tank. Because of their large potential size, a large tank is necessary as well, although they are known to be slow growers.
Other than wood, Royal pleco's eat pellets, fresh vegetables (such as spinach, lettuce, potato, zucchini, peas, cucumber, etc.), shrimp and other meaty foods.
http://www.piranha-fury.com/photopost/data/3158/199L190_01.jpg
http://www.piranha-fury.com/photopost/data/3158/199L190_04.jpg
http://www.piranha-fury.com/photopost/data/3158/199L190_06.jpg
http://www.piranha-fury.com/photopost/data/3158/199L190_07.jpg
*above pic taken from: www.piranha-info.com (http://www.piranha-info.com/)
Although planetcatfish characterises this species as shy, secretive, and for a good part nocturnal, my personal experiences with this fish are quite different: my juvenile Royal Pleco is the single-most active and outgoing pleco I have ever had. Usually just minding his own business, it can be pretty quarrelsome during feeding time or when lacking personal space, and can show signs of agression especially towards the other bottom-dwelling fish in his tank.
Tank mates should be chosen with some care: Royal Pleco's have been known to latch onto slow-moving fish like Discus (probably because of the nutritious skin excretion they use to feed their young).
This fish is pretty undemanding as far as water quality and decor goes: pH should be somewhere between 6,5-7,5, water temperature is standard tropical, and a powerhead will be appreciated, to mimick the fast-flowing river in their native habitat. As said, a powerful filtration system is necessary to cope with the large amounts of waste this fish produces (even more when it's staple diet is wood, which results in a large amount of undigestable matter being released).
Plants can be used in the tank, but Royals have been known to strip plants bare in no-time. Drift wood provides food as well as a shady retreat for the day-time hours, and rocks can offer additional hiding places.
For futher reading, try the following links
- www.fishbase.org (http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?ID=12216&genusname=Panaque&speciesname=nigrolineatus)
- www.planetcatfish.com Catfish of the Month (http://www.planetcatfish.com/cotm/1999-05.htm)
- www.catfish.com (http://www.catfish.com) factsheets:
L027 'Rio Tapajos', Golden Line Royal Pleco profile (http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/loricari/panaque/1304_f.php)
L027/L027c 'Rio Tocantins', Platinum Royal Pleco profile (http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/loricari/panaque/993_f.php)
L027/L027c/LDA63 'Rio Xingu', Longnosed Royal Pleco, Red Fin Royal Pleco profile (http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/loricari/panaque/891_f.php)
L027b, Olive Royal Pleco, Teles Pires Royal Pleco profile (http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/loricari/panaque/994_f.php)
L190 Royal Pleco profile (http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/loricari/panaque/151_f.php)
L191 Dull Eyed Royal Pleco profile (http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/loricari/panaque/642_f.php)
L330 Watermelon (Royal) Pleco profile (http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/loricari/panaque/337_f.php)- www.aquahobby.com Info and testimonials (http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/gpanaque.html)
- www.welse.net Article (german) (http://www.welse.net/seiten/nigrolin.htm)
- www.malawicichlidhomepage.com Info sheet (http://www.malawicichlidhomepage.com/aquainfo/royal_pleco_group.html)