Royal Pleco

This fish was first described by Peters in 1877. The striking red eyes and dark body with gray/white horizontal stripes make for an eye-catching display. The Royal may have a white stripe around the caudal fin area and a mostly transparent tail fin. The dorsal fin is dark with white tips and is often displayed rather than folded against the body. The pectoral fins are prominent with thickened first rays with small bristles; care should be taken to avoid injury when catching this fish. One feature of interest among the Panaque species is the toothy structure, with larger teeth used to rasp woody material. For this reason it is best to include some driftwood in the display aquarium. Also, avoid acrylic tanks as this fish can physically scratch the material!