Blue Panaque (L239)
Baryancistrus beggini
Also known as L239, Blue Fin Panaque, Blue Panaque Pleco
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 79–86°F (26–30°C)
- pH
- 6.0–7.4
- Adult size
- 4.7 in (12 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 30 gal (115 L)
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Rare
- Origin
- Rio Ventuari and upper Rio Orinoco in Venezuela and Colombia.
- Family
- Loricariidae
Overview
A small, sturdy pleco for a tank of about 115 liters with good current. It is mainly a grazer, so feed algae and spirulina wafers and blanched vegetables with some protein from sinking pellets and frozen foods for balance, and no need for wood in the diet. Territorial toward similar bottom dwellers but otherwise community safe.
In the wild
Found over granite bedrock and boulder fields in exposed, fast-flowing parts of the Orinoco and its Ventuari tributary. It grazes periphyton, the algae and microfauna film coating the rocks, so its wild diet blends vegetable matter with the small animals living in that film. Give it strong flow, high oxygen, and open rock as well as caves.
Good to know
Despite the panaque trade name it is not a Panaque and does not eat wood, sitting instead among the gold nugget plecos in the genus Baryancistrus. Described as Baryancistrus beggini, it wears a solid blue-black to slate body, sometimes with a bright fin trim. It stays compact at around 10 to 12 cm.
Did you know
The panaque name is misleading, because unlike the true royal plecos this fish does not need driftwood to digest its food.
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
- LiveAquaria Freshwater and saltwater fish, inverts and corals
- Imperial Tropicals Freshwater fish and inverts bred at a Florida hatchery
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
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Related species
Gold nugget pleco
Baryancistrus sp. cf. xanthellus9.8 in (25 cm)55 gal (210 L)81–90°F (27–32°C)
Clown peckoltia (L134)
Peckoltia compta4.7 in (12 cm)29 gal (110 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
Flash Pleco (L204)
Panaqolus albivermis5.1 in (13 cm)40 gal (150 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
King tiger pleco (L066)
Hypancistrus sp. L0665.1 in (13 cm)40 gal (150 L)79–84°F (26–29°C)Tiger Pleco (L002)
Panaqolus sp. L0025.1 in (13 cm)40 gal (150 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)Orinoco Angel Pleco (L201)
Hypancistrus sp. L2015.9 in (15 cm)30 gal (115 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)