(Please note that the fish shown in the photo is only a representative of what an adult specimen would look like. The color may vary based on the age and sex of the fish you receive.)
Scientific Name: Panaque nigrolineatus
Common Name: Royal Pleco, Royal Plecostomus
Adult Size: 15 - 18 inches
Life Expectancy: 10+ Years
Habitat: South America
Minimum Tank Size: 55 Gallon
Ideal Tank Conditions:
- Temperature Range: 71 - 80°F
- pH Range: 6.7 - 7.5
- Water Hardness: 4 - 15
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet & Nutrition: Royal Pleco needs a high vegetable diet. Use quality flake or pellets but add plenty of greens in the form of lettuce, spinach and they seem to love peas the most.
Breeding & Spawning: Royal Plecos do not breed well in captivity.
Gender: There are no visible differences between the sexes; it is possible to sex them when they are mature by turning them over and looking at their vents. The females genital papilla will be round and blunted, in the male it will be smaller and have a pointed shape.
Compatible Tank Mates: See Compatibility Chart