lash by name and flash by looks!, that is the subject of this
months (Nov. 2010) factsheet. A very nice looking member of the
Loricariidae family and as not yet has not been named to species
so it has had the L-number of L204 since February 1996 from the
DATZ magazine pages 74-75.
|
Panaque sp.
(L204) - Adult
|
There is an actual school of thought,
mainly in Germany, that the smaller Panaques are actually Panaqolus
and the larger species are Panaque, thus this species
would then be Panaqolus sp. (L204). The differences
are that Panaque have an oval shaped mouth and the
jaws have very large spatulate teeth with a single cusp, arranged
in a v form and Panaqolus have a small number of spatulate
teeth.
This seems to make sense as it would
split the smaller Panaqolus and the larger Panaques
but as yet this has not gained exceptance worldwide.
The juveniles of this species have a
very bold pattern of light stripes which form into spots and
stripes with age as can be seen on the above image and the juvenile
markings shown in the image below.
|
Panaque sp.
(L204) - Juvenile colours.
|
Tank set-up should contain wood of some
description as the Panaques need this in their diet. Plants
will not work too well as they will be eaten so plenty of wood
scattered around the tank with a few caves for spawning activities
on a sand or small rounded gravel bed will do just fine. Provide
strong aeration due to the higher temperatures involved.
Oval mouth region with a small number of spatulate
teeth with a single cusp, arranged in
a V.
Juveniles will sport white stripes on a black
body but this will often break up into spots/thinner stripes when
maturing into adulthood. The base colour is dark brown with yellow
thin vertical lines.
Peaceful Loracariids that will co-exist
with fishes that like temperatures on the higher side. Will co-exist
fine with shoaling Tetra's or small Cichlids. Will get slightly
territorial with age.
Plenty of water changes seem to be the
catalyst for the breeding of this species. Male
will make a home in the cave
and the female will visit where up to 70
eggs will be laid. The female will be ejected by the male and
he will care for the eggs. After the fry have used up their yolk
sac they can be fed with pleco tablets and will also graze, like
their parents on soft wood provided by the aquarist.
| Sexual
differences |
Males posses a broad head
and odontodes on the posterior part of the body, behind the
gill covers and on the pectoral spines. The latter two are
a lot shorter in the females.
|
| Feeding |
All Panaque (Panaqolus)
are wood eaters so would need this in an aquarium set-up. Feed also
vegetable foods such as cucumber and courgette (zucchini) and sinking
tablets.
| References |
Seidel, Ingo.
Back to Nature guide to L-catfishes 208 p
|
| Etymology |
Panaque:
Venezuelan common
name for plecostomus.
|
Top picture: © Danny
Blundell
Bottom Picture:
© Daniel Konn-Vetterlein |
Peru: middle to upper
Rio Ucayali drainage 
