What Do I Need for a Royal Pleco Fish Tank?

Royal plecostomus, or pleco, is a member of the genus Panaque, to which all true plecostomus belong. These fish grow to a maximum length of 17 inches and require a minimum of 55 gallons of water to thrive in a home aquarium. The royal plecostomus does not mix well with its own species or other bottom-feeding suckermouth catfish, but can be kept in a community tank with other nonbottom feeders.

  1. Substrate

    • Substrate is the media at the bottom of the tank. Aquarium gravel, sand and stones are all common types of substrate. The substrate is necessary to catch waste, give beneficial bacteria a place to live and to allow for a stable nitrate cycle to take place. A royal pleco must have a tank with substrate that is too large for it to swallow. Large, smooth stones are too large for the biggest royal pleco to swallow. Sand is easily filtered through. Small gravel can cause a choking hazard.

    Ideal Water Temperature

    • The royal pleco is a tropical fish. It requires a heater to keep the aquarium water warm enough for comfort. The aquarium must be kept no cooler than 74 degrees Fahrenheit and at a maximum of 82 degrees. By attaching a thermometer to the side of the aquarium, or using a floating thermometer, the water is monitored to maintain an ideal temperature range.

    Water Testing and Health

    • Water testing strips are a must. Each water testing kit comes with a booklet that explains the different readings on each testing strip and what parameters are safe for your species of fish. Dechlorinator is necessary to remove harmful chlorine and chloramines from the tap water that initially fills the aquarium. Testing pH as well as the use of ammonium neutralizers help balance the chemistry of the water.

    Hiding Areas

    • Hiding areas are not necessary, but many royal plecos enjoy cover from things that frighten or startle them. Caves made for cichlids or any products that state they are aquarium safe and are large enough for your fish to fit into and out of safely are suitable hiding areas.

    Lighting

    • Royal plecos require no specialized lighting. A standard florescent bulb hood is all the fish requires.

    Filtration

    • A standard backpack filter for the aquarium will do perfectly fine for a successful royal pleco habitat. However, these fish do accumulate a large amount of filth. Regularly cleaning the filter and the aquarium is a must. The filter must also be capable of turning over the water times 10. A 55 gallon aquarium requires a filter that has a rating of at least 550 gallons per hour on the box.

    Food

    • Sinking algae pellets are not enough for plecos, but they are a good staple food to build from. Shrimp pellets, algae pellets and fresh foods such as cucumbers or zucchini make ideal food sources for the fish.