All fish / Loricariidae

White-spotted Panaque

Panaqolus albomaculatus

Also known as l204, l-204, flash pleco, white spot panaque, white-spotted panaqolus, panaque albomaculatus, dwarf panaque, パナクエ・アルボマクラータス, 白点小巴拿马, L204

No free-to-use photo of this fish yet. Took one yourself? Send it to us and we will credit you.

A compact, dark-bodied suckermouth catfish with scattered white spots and often pale edges to the fins, which fade or intensify with mood and age. It is kept as a hardy, characterful wood-eating pleco that stays small enough for medium community tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

12 cm

Temperature

24 to 29 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

100 litres

Keep as

Singly or in a group of several with enough caves; males squabble over territory

Diet

Omnivore: needs wood to rasp, plus vegetables such as courgette and cucumber, algae wafers and occasional meaty foods

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Upper Amazon basin in Ecuador and Peru (Napo, Pastaza and Marañón drainages)

Breeding

A cave spawner in which the male guards the eggs and wrigglers inside a tight cave. Captive breeding is occasional and needs mature, well-fed adults, good water quality and suitable caves.

Good to know

Driftwood is essential for its digestion and it produces a lot of waste, so strong filtration is needed. Several similar spotted Panaqolus, such as L002, L398 and Ecuadorian forms, are sold under the same name.