Common Name: L306 Blood Red Tiger Pleco
Scientific Name: Panaqolus claustellifer
Other Names: L306
The L306 Blood Red Tiger Pleco is a captive-bred Panaqolus and a colorful choice for smaller aquariums. It is a small, banded Panaqolus, known in the hobby as the Blood Red Tiger Pleco, with the compact body and spoon-shaped teeth Panaqolus use to rasp wood. Like other plecos, it has an armored body and a sucker-like mouth that it uses to cling to surfaces and graze.
Habitat and Distribution:
Panaqolus claustellifer is native to the Rio Takutu on the Brazil-Guyana border, where these small plecos live among submerged wood. This fish is captive-bred. These habitats provide plenty of surfaces for grazing and crevices for shelter, and the flowing water keeps oxygen levels high.
Size and Lifespan:
Adults reach about 3-4 inches (8-10 cm). Most plecos of this size live 10 years or more with good care.
Diet and Behavior:
Panaqolus are wood-eaters that rasp on submerged wood and graze biofilm in the wild. In the aquarium, provide driftwood at all times, plus vegetables and algae wafers. They are peaceful, though they may be territorial with other small plecos. Feed a varied diet and remove uneaten food promptly to protect water quality.
Breeding and Reproduction:
Plecos of this type are cave spawners. The female lays a clutch of eggs inside a cave or crevice, and the male guards and fans the eggs and then the newly hatched fry until they are ready to leave. Providing several caves, excellent water quality and good water movement gives the best chance of spawning.
Aquarium Care and Tank Requirements:
A tank of at least 20 gallons is recommended, with plenty of driftwood. Provide plenty of driftwood, caves and rockwork, a sand or fine gravel substrate, and efficient filtration with good water movement and high oxygen levels. Regular water changes are essential to maintain water quality. The water temperature should be kept between 75-82°F (24-28°C), with a pH of 6.0-7.5 and soft to moderately hard water. New arrivals should be acclimated slowly.
Ideal Tank Mates:
They can be kept with a wide range of peaceful community fish, such as tetras, rasboras, corydoras, dwarf cichlids and other small catfish. Provide a cave for each pleco and avoid housing them with large, aggressive species that may stress or injure them. As with any aquarium, introduce new fish carefully and watch for signs of stress or aggression.
Difficulty Level:
Beginner to Intermediate. Captive-bred Panaqolus are hardy, provided they have driftwood and clean water. Aquarists with some basic experience should find it straightforward to keep.
Water Parameters:
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Temperature: 75-82°F (24-28°C)
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pH: 6.0-7.5
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General Hardness (GH): 2-10 dGH
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Carbonate Hardness (KH): 2-6 dKH
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Ammonia: 0 ppm
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Nitrite: 0 ppm
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Nitrate: <20 ppm (regular water changes required)
Additional Information:
- Panaqolus rasp on driftwood as part of their diet, so always keep wood in the tank.
- It is most active in the evening, which is the best time to feed.
- Similar-looking Panaqolus from other regions are sometimes traded under the same L-number.
The L306 Blood Red Tiger Pleco is a colorful, compact pleco that fits well in smaller community aquariums.
