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.
Photo: Neale Monks / Wikimedia Commons · Source · CC-BY-SA-3.0