{"product_id":"l397-pleco-panaqolus-sp-l397","title":"L397 Pleco | Panaqolus sp. L397","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe L397 (Alenquer Tiger) is a small, wood-eating \u003cem\u003ePanaqolus\u003c\/em\u003e banded in caramel and black. Give it plenty of driftwood to rasp and it is a hardy, characterful fancy pleco that stays a tidy 10–12 cm.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe L397 comes from the Rio Amazonas near Alenquer in Brazil, living among sunken driftwood and leaf litter in warm, soft, well-oxygenated water with moderate flow.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eWarm caramel-to-tan body crossed by dark tiger bands that fade and shift with mood and age. A slim, wood-loving pleco with a rasping mouth built for grazing timber.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeaceful and retiring, spending its day rasping on wood and hiding among timber. Males can be mildly territorial with other wood-eating plecos over a favourite log, so provide plenty of driftwood and caves.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA true wood-eating \u003cem\u003ePanaqolus\u003c\/em\u003e: its rasping, spoon-shaped teeth strip biofilm from driftwood, and some wood must always be present in the tank. Supplement with vegetables (courgette, pea, spinach) and vegetable-based sinking wafers, plus occasional meaty foods. The digested wood also means plenty of mess — keep filtration strong.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eProvide warm, soft, clean and well-oxygenated water with good flow and multiple pieces of driftwood for grazing and cover. Hardy once settled, but wood is non-negotiable for long-term health.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA cave-spawner. Conditioned pairs spawn in tight tubes or caves, the male guarding and fanning the eggs until the fry emerge. A wood-rich, soft, warm tank encourages breeding.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePanaqolus sp. L397\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eL397 Tiger Pleco (Alenquer Tiger)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRio Amazonas near Alenquer, Brazil (South America)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 10–12 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8–10 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful; males mildly territorial\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e75 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e110 litres or more\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWood-grazing omnivore (driftwood biofilm + vegetables)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24–30 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.0–7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2–12 dGH (soft to moderately hard)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate keepers; planted community and biotope tanks with driftwood\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGenerally yes — prefers wood to plants, though may graze soft new growth\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeaceful tetras, rasboras, pencilfish, dwarf cichlids, Corydoras and other calm community fish. Ideal in a soft-water, wood-rich planted tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAggressive or boisterous tankmates, and other wood-eating plecos kept without enough driftwood and caves. Avoid hard, alkaline setups and tanks with no wood.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232803143971,"sku":null,"price":105.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232803176739,"sku":"AA2379","price":119.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55232803209507,"sku":null,"price":140.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/l397-pleco-panaqolus-sp-l397","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}