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Royal Pleco
Panaque nigrolineatus
Family: Loricariidae
📍 Orinoco Basin, Venezuela
Royal plecos have striking dark striping on a grey-brown body and spoon-shaped teeth adapted for rasping wood. Driftwood is an essential part of their diet and tank décor. They grow large and require spacious tanks with powerful filtration.
Keeping this species
- diet
- Herbivore – driftwood (essential), algae wafers, vegetables, sinking pellets
- lifespan
- 10+ years
- max size
- 43 cm (17 in)
- tank size
- 75 gallons minimum
- temperament
- Peaceful; territorial with own kind
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Tips from the community 💡
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Water it likes
- ph
- 6.5–7.5
- ammonia
- 0 ppm
- nitrate
- <20 ppm
- hardness
- 3–15 dGH
- temperature
- 73–82°F (23–28°C)
Natural Habitat Temperature
79°F — 82°F seasonal range · (Jan low, Mar high)