I Love Royal Plecos

[amy1994]

I love Royal Plecos
Thought maybe i would start a topic, and people can add pics of their Royal Plecos,
i will start it off heres my Royal.....

 

[matubula]

Here's some of my L027.

And my biggest L190, same as my avatar.

 

[simonas]

he is a beauty mate. I love the L027 I;ve never seen one for sale locally and would love one and a watermelon

 

[Amunet]

Just took these a few mins ago. We've had it for about 3 months now and fairly recently, it has finally started to not be so skittish and shy.
Really cute little pleco.

Quick question.
What is the growth rate of these? I don't think this fish has grown since we purchased it and it has me a bit concerned. Hopefully over nothing, but just need to make sure just in case.
EDIT: Nevermind. Google search to the rescue. Looks like they're slow growers. Ok whew! thought my little one wasn't getting enough food or something heh.

 

[Plecostomos Fan]

Had this one for about a year now, can get him to come out with a piece of cucumber.

 

[Plecostomos Fan]

And my biggest L190, same as my avatar.

[/quote]

matubula, that is a magnificent specimen he must be in a large tank, how long have you had him?
Just been looking and now I see its L027 Tocantins royal plec i was confused when i saw the L190 i didn't know there were so many diferent types of royal plecs.

 

[This Old Spouse]

Truly magnificent.

 

[amy1994]

Gorgeous plecos
Can't wait till my little plecos a bit bigger

 

[matubula]

matubula, that is a magnificent specimen he must be in a large tank, how long have you had him?
Just been looking and now I see its L027 Tocantins royal plec i was confused when i saw the L190 i didn't know there were so many diferent types of royal plecs.

I've had him since September 2009. The tank isn't that large, only 120x60x45cm about 320 litres, I'd like a much larger one for him but for the time being this suffices. It's not L027 Tocantins, definitely L190 Panaque nigrolineatus. Yes there are a few different sorts, 2 described species so far and numerous undescribed varieties.

 

[Plecostomos Fan]

matubula, that is a magnificent specimen he must be in a large tank, how long have you had him?
Just been looking and now I see its L027 Tocantins royal plec i was confused when i saw the L190 i didn't know there were so many diferent types of royal plecs.

I've had him since September 2009. The tank isn't that large, only 120x60x45cm about 320 litres, I'd like a much larger one for him but for the time being this suffices. It's not L027 Tocantins, definitely L190 Panaque nigrolineatus. Yes there are a few different sorts, 2 described species so far and numerous undescribed varieties.

Argh yes its only the juvenile L190 that have the transparent caudal fin.
I have a book that shows 4 types of L027, and at least 10 others that resemble the Royal, its hard work sometimes trying to id them!

 

[Plecostomos Fan]

I love Royal Plecos
Thought maybe i would start a topic, and people can add pics of their Royal Plecos,
i will start it off heres my Royal.....

I may be wrong Amy but your plec looks more like a juvenile L191, or maybe i should stop looking at my new plec book.
It realy doesn't look like mine and i cant see if it has red eyes?

 

[amy1994]

I may be wrong Amy but your plec looks more like a juvenile L191, or maybe i should stop looking at my new plec book.
It realy doesn't look like mine and i cant see if it has red eyes?

You are right
It is a juvenile L191
I love him
and no he doesn't have red eyes
He is about 3-4 inches, so he's got some growing to do!

 

[amy1994]

Just been looking and now I see its L027 Tocantins royal plec i was confused when i saw the L190 i didn't know there were so many diferent types of royal plecs.

How many actually are there?
I also keep seeing more and more.....

 

[matubula]

Argh yes its only the juvenile L190 that have the transparent caudal fin.

Nope, nearly all juvenile Panaque (the Royal plecs) exhibit a transparent caudal fin of some degree but some retain it longer than others. The Brazilian Royals (L027s) tend to lose it faster and the Venezuelan/Colombian Royals (L190, L191, L330) retain it for longer.

How many actually are there?
I also keep seeing more and more.....

There are 3 described species, Panaque nigrolineatus (L190), Panaque armbrusteri (L027 Tapajos) and Panaque titan (L418). And L330 which is very similar to Panaque nigrolineatus, L191 which is very similar to Panaque titan, and the 3 main L027 from the Rio Xingu, Tocantins and Araguaia which are similar to Panaque armbrusteri.

There are also the Panaque which aren't considered as 'Royals'. The 'blue eyes' Panaque cochliodon and suttonorum, the 'titanic' Panaque schaeferi, and the 'papa' Panaque bathyphilus.

 

[Plecostomos Fan]

Matubula, the L027 Rio Araguaia is the spitting image of your L190 Panaque nigrolineatus.