Awesome Freshwater Algae Eaters in Fish Tank: Blue Panaque Pleco
AwesomeFreshwater Algae Eaters in Fish Tank: Blue Panaque Pleco – L239, or the "blue panaque
pleco," is a little loricariid (suckermouth) catfish that had been
previously set briefly in the tribe Ancistrini, which identified it as a
ancistrine-kind catfish, using the physical characteristics of one or more related
genera. It is a distinct teal blue color, which can be believed to darken with
age, and also the fins are edged in ice blue.
 |
Photo copyright from fishkeeper.co.uk
|
Awesome Freshwater Algae Eaters in Fish Tank: Blue Panaque Pleco
The ventral place is a
swirl of blues, purple, and pink. One important physical characteristic of this
species is the fused dorsal and adipose fins, which are joined by a section of
fin tissue known as the interradial membrane (see photo below).
So while Blue Panaque
plecs are inexpensive and widely sold, from purchasing them discerning
aquarists may want to hold off until they’ve full investigated the market.
There are lots of medium to big suckermouth catfish offered to aquarists which
are interesting and much more colourful as opposed to common plecs. These
choices to the Blue Panaque plecs are not very much more difficult to keep up,
as we’ll see in this essay, and since they’re so far more attractive, they can
easily be centrepiece fish rather than mere scavengers or algae-eaters.
Tank furniture comprises
a number of upright parts of slate, several pieces of bogwood, and big smooth
stone. A few of the leaves of several Echinodorus species plants are scraped
quite vigorously, and plant tissue is missing. A heads up for serious gardeners
that are aquatic: broad leafed plants may be eaten by L239. The top is covered
with water lettuce plants (Pistia stratiotes) which remove nitrates and offer
shading, both important to all loricariids, particularly wild-caught species.
Habitat
Other loricariid species
inhabiting the area around the confluence of the Ventauri and Orinoco contain
Acanthicus hystrix, Ancistrus macrophthalmus, Baryancistrus demantoides,
Hemiancistrus subviridis, Hemiancistrus guahiborum, Hypancistrus contradens,
Hypancistrus debilittera, Hypancistrus furunculus, Hypancistrus lunaorum,
Lasiancistrus schomburgkii, Leporacanthicus galaxias, Leporacanthicus triactis,
Panaque nigrolineatus, Peckoltia vittata, Pseudancistrus orinoco, Pseudancistrus
pectegenitor, Pseudancistrus sidereus, Pseudolithoxus anthrax, Pseudolithoxus
dumus, and Pseudolithoxus tigris.
Diet
Comparatively few blue
panaque suckermouth catfish are completely vegetarian and none of the large
species feeds completely on algae. This means that beyond whatever alga they
find in the tank the aquarist will have to provide a number of foods for all
these catfish.
There are good value
catfish pellets and algae wafers on sale that make useful basics, and these can
be augmented with a number of other things. On the list of great green foods
are courgette, carrot, sweet potato, cooked peas and blanched lettuce. Meaty
foods comprise prawns, mussels, cockles, white fish fillet and little portions
of beefheart. Wet-frozen foods including bloodworms, krill, minced squid and
lancefish are widely sold in pet shops and will be easily accepted by all
suckermouth catfish.
Behaviour and Compatibility
Not advocated for the
general’ community that is ‘ although relatively peaceful aquarium on account
of its somewhat fragile nature.
Keep it alone or
possibly alongside some small characids that WOn't compete for food or land
with it.
It’s territorial with
conspecifics and similar-appearing species, with this particular behavior being
especially pronounced among males, but in many cases several can be kept
together due to the modest size.
Breeding
The Blue-Black Panaque
has been bred in the home aquarium, but it is extremely challenging and reports
are somewhat sketchy and far between and few. This species would make a
fantastic breeding endeavor for the serious hobbyist.
Essential for success
with one of these cave-spawners is good-conditioned, sexually mature fish of
both genders kept in warm (~28 deg C), soft, acidic water with a high degree of
oxygenation, and also a choice of several relatively comfortable clay or slate
front-opening caverns (ideally just a couple of centimetres longer, broader,
and higher compared to the fish and with only one entrance hole).
Care
Like it ’s intolerant to
the collection of organic wastes and demands spotless water at all times as a
way to thrive.
It’s also important to
provide sufficient levels of dissolved oxygen and water movement by means of a
combination of canister filters, powerheads, etc., especially if the purpose is
for the fish to breed, and weekly water changes of 40-70% should also be
considered compulsory.
