Royal panaque, Royal plec, Royal pleco
Panaque nigrolineatus, the royal panaque, royal plec, or royal pleco, is an herbivorous freshwater armored catfish native to Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela where it occurs in the Orinoco and Amazon basins. It is known for being one of the few fish that digest wood. It grows to a length of 43.0 centimetres (16.9 in) and is a popular aquarium fish.
The royal panaque is closely related to the popular plecostomus catfish kept in many aquaria as an algae eater. While the royal panaque also eats algae, it is best known among biologists as being among the very few fish capable of eating and digesting wood. It does so using symbiotic gut bacteria. Royal panaques are light grey in colour patterned with dark grey squiggles. They have red eyes and the dorsal fins are edged with cream or gold. The body is encased in heavy armour, except for the belly, which is soft. This armour is made of strong plates of skin, not scales. Royal panaques can grow to 43 centimetres (17 in) in length. Because they are heavy and inflexible, they do not swim well, but they do have a strong sucker-like mouth that enables them to hold onto rocks and wood in fast flowing waters.
The royal panaque can be found in the Orinoco River as well as a number of tributaries of the Amazon River.
The royal panaque is valuable as an aquarium fish. It is a very attractive aquarium fish which grows to a large size, with a maximum length of 43.0 centimeters in standard length. Maintenance is as for other Panaque, with the fish needing plenty of space, well oxygenated water, and a regular supply of vegetables and wood on which to feed. Young are often imported in an undernourished state and require dedicated attention to recover. Primarily nocturnal, this fish is generally shy under the light and will keep in hiding during the day. This fish is territorial, so a suitable resting area for this fish is necessary. This species has not yet been bred in captivity.
