L027 Half Spot Royal Pleco

Remarks:  The L027 half spot royal pleco is one of the many localities of the L027 royal pleco with their name coming from the fact this population tends to have some spotting present along with the usual gold/yellow and brown/black stripes. Paired with their red or orange eyes, this makes for some absolutely stunning coloration. With how large and well armored royal plecos are, they can make a great addition to a tank containing larger and more aggressive fish so long as they share the same preferred water parameters consisting of somewhat soft, acidic conditions with little pollutants. However, it should be kept in mind royal plecos can be territorial toward conspecifics so if housing them with other loricariids, plenty of space and hiding spots should be provided. Other fish being swallowed is not something that needs to be worried about as these fish are almost completely non-predatory.

  Like other Panaque species, L027 half spot royal plecos supplement their nutrition by rasping wood to consume the microorganisms and algae that live on and below its surface. To ensure proper digestion and nutrition as well as make them feel at home, royals plecos must always have access to wood to graze on. They also appreciate vegetables such as zucchini or cucumbers as well as algae wafers. These fish graze almost 24/7 so that means they also produce a lot of waste. To avoid build up of pollutants, frequent water changes should be performed. Like with any Loricariid lots of oxygenation is also appreciated which can be achieved through the use of wavemakers, heavy filtration, and aerators. If all their needs are attended to, royal plecos can be fantastic choice for those looking for a large, robust pleco.