All fish / Loricariidae

Papa Panaque (L090)

Panaque bathyphilus

Also known as l090, l 090, papa panaque, papa pleco, peru blue panaque, blue panaque, deep water panaque, bathyphilus pleco, panaque l90, パナクエ・バシフィラス, L090

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This is a deep-water suckermouth catfish with a greyish to bluish dark body, long tail filaments in juveniles and the large spoon-shaped teeth typical of Panaque. Hobbyists keep it because it is an unusual, fairly rarely imported pleco that grows into an impressive wood-eating centrepiece fish.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

30 cm

Temperature

24 to 29 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

400 litres

Keep as

Singly, or in a very large tank with plenty of caves

Diet

Herbivore: bogwood, which it rasps, plus sinking algae wafers, courgette, cucumber and other vegetables, with occasional prawns or bloodworm

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Deep river channels of the Amazon basin, including the Amazon, Ucayali and Marañón systems in Peru and Brazil

Breeding

It has not been reliably bred in aquariums. Like its relatives it is presumed to spawn in caves or burrows, with the male guarding the eggs.

Good to know

It grows large, produces a lot of waste and needs strong filtration and plenty of driftwood in its diet. Adults can be territorial towards other plecos, and it is easily mixed up with other grey or blue Panaque species.