Spotted version of the Royal Panaque, these fish are only occasionally imported from Colombia
Further details:
Fish type:
tropical
Male or Female
Cannot be sexed
Water conditions:
These fish are currently kept in water
Ph 6.8 and Soft
Breeding:
TBC
Volume Discount:
No discounts available
Size:
12-15cm
L330 Panaque sp.
(Watermelon Plec
, L027a
)
Basically light greenish-grey with dark grey stripes running along the body. The eyes are orange or red and overall body shape is very robust with a highly arched back and broad head.
The royal plec Panaque nigrolineatus (L190), L027a, L027b, and L027c are all very similar to one another and easily confused. It is not know if they are completely different species, subspecies, or merely geographical variants of a single, widespread species.
L027a is easily distinguished because the dark stripes running along the body are interconnected, breaking up the light grey ground colour into numerous smaller spots and bars. L027b has a more greenish-blue tinge to the ground colour (hence "olive royal plec") and the dark stripes are also a bit more bluish than with the other varieties. L027c has a much lighter ground colour than the other varieties (hence "platinum royal plec") and has an orange rather than red eye and the tail is more or less solid black. L190, the standard royal plec, has a distinctive white patch filling the front half of the tail fin when young. The fin rays on the dorsal fins of Colombian and Venezuelan L190 specimens are barred whereas those on Brazilian specimens are solid. L330 are identical to L027a, but whereas L027a comes from Brazil, L330 are from Colombia.
Fish information
(behaviour and breeding):
A territorial but otherwise peaceful fish that works well in most community tanks, provided its large adult size is taken into consideration. While they will chase conspecifics, and probably any other plecs of similar shape and size, they are harmless towards other fish, even ones as small as livebearer fry.
Fishes of the genus Panaque are almost entirely herbivorous and should not be given high-protein foods such as catfish pellets, prawns, or mussels on a regular basis. Instead, provide them with soft vegetables (such as courgette and cucumber) and bogwood. These fish actually eat and digest the wood, and it appears to be critical to their long term health.
Fish Details:
Distribution
Columbia
Temperature
24-26 C
Size
40 cm
Water Parameters
Adaptable, but avoid extremes
Water PH
6.0 to 7.5
Images:
Some of the above images
have been provided by Tropicalfishfinder. Please be
aware that variations within species mean that the fish
you are sent may not be identical to the fish in the
photographs.
