TankBud

Thunder royal pleco (L027)

Panaque armbrusteri

Also known as L027, Tapajos Royal Pleco, Gold Line Royal Pleco, Thunder Line Royal Pleco

FreshwaterFish

Thunder royal pleco (L027) (Panaque armbrusteri)
JSutton93 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
77–84°F
25–29°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
17.7 in
45 cm
Minimum tank
151 gal
570 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Loricariidae
Origin
Rio Tapajos in Para, Brazil.

Overview

The thunder royal pleco (L027) is a large, slow-growing wood eater for the bottom of a very big tank. It is a project for an experienced keeper.

Did you know

Panaque host special gut microbes that help break down cellulose. That is how a fish manages to make a living eating driftwood.

Caring for the thunder royal pleco (L027)

Give a thunder royal pleco (L027) a tank of at least 151 gal (570 L), with several types of soft driftwood always available. It wants strong flow and plenty of oxygen. Keep the water at 77 to 84°F (25 to 29°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5.

Its gut depends on wood fiber, so the driftwood is a staple food, essential to its health rather than optional. Supplement the wood with fresh vegetables like zucchini and some sinking foods, and keep protein light.

The thunder royal pleco is a solitary fish and peaceful toward most tank mates. As it matures, it turns territorial with other large bottom dwellers.

Good to know

The thunder royal pleco (L027) was described as Panaque armbrusteri and is also sold as the Tapajos royal. It is one of the big true royal plecos, with bold gold or cream lines on a dark olive body. Those lines give it the thunder line and gold line trade names. Panaque are among the very few fish able to live largely on wood, scraping it with specialized, spoon-shaped teeth.

In the wild

The thunder royal pleco (L027) lives in the large, fast waters of the Rio Tapajos in Para, Brazil, among sunken logs and rock. It spends its time there rasping on submerged wood.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The thunder royal pleco (L027) is a mostly peaceful, solitary species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a thunder royal pleco (L027) need?

A thunder royal pleco (L027) needs at least 151 gal (570 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a thunder royal pleco (L027) need?

A thunder royal pleco (L027) is comfortable at 77–84°F (25–29°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a thunder royal pleco (L027) eat?

A thunder royal pleco (L027) eats driftwood as a staple, since its gut depends on wood fiber. Add fresh vegetables like zucchini and some sinking foods, and keep protein light.

How big does a thunder royal pleco (L027) get?

An adult thunder royal pleco (L027) reaches about 17.7 in (45 cm).

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