Species Profile
Royal Pleco
Panaque nigrolineatus
Plecossemi-aggressive
Adult size
17″
Minimum tank
125 gal
Temperature
73–82°F
pH
6.5–7.5
Schooling
Solitary OK
Water level
bottom
Diet
Driftwood, veggies, algae wafers
Notes
Striking grey body with thin black stripes and vivid red eyes. Wood-eater, real driftwood in the tank is not optional. Slow-growing but reaches 17″; plan for a 125gal+ tank. Often outlives the keeper, 20+ years.
Compatible Tankmates
Best tank mates for Royal Pleco
Every species below passes the compatibility engine when paired with Royal Plecoin a suitably sized tank. Verdicts come from the same rules the builder uses — click a card to see that species' own care profile and its tank mates in turn.
Cardinal Tetra
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Rummynose Tetra
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Harlequin Rasbora
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Zebra Danio
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Fancy Guppy
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Platy
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Molly
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Swordtail
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Male Betta
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Dwarf Gourami
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Honey Gourami
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Pearl Gourami
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Photo: Neale Monks / Wikimedia Commons · Source · CC-BY-SA-3.0