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Panaqolus sp.

L403

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Last revised 2026Edit this page

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Adult specimen from the German aquarium trade.
Adult specimen from the German aquarium trade.Enrico Richter

Quick factsEdit

Max size
120mm SL5in SL
Aquarium size
120 × 30cm48 × 12in
Temp
24–30°C75–86°F
pH
6.0–7.0
Hardness
2–10dGH

Difficulty6 of 8 measures

Moderate

How the rating is worked out

Space
large tank
Water
needs a steady pH
Temp
flexible
Diet
needs wood to graze
Temperament
unknown
Social
needs to be in a group
Compatibility
fine with others

Other demands

Each of these can raise the rating on its own, whatever the measures above say.

Hardiness
unknown

L403 is an undescribed wood-eating suckermouth catfish in the genus Panaqolus, known only from the rio Anapu in Pará state, Brazil. The species is xylophagous, feeding primarily on wood, so driftwood must be provided. It should be given a mainly vegetarian diet, with meaty foods kept to a minimum. It has been bred in aquaria.

Etymology

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Panaqolus: a diminutive form of the generic name Panaque.

Distribution

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Known only from the rio Anapu, a tributary of the lower Amazon basin in Pará state, Brazil.

Aquarium size

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Standard length
120mm SL5in SL
Aquarium base
120 × 30cm48 × 12in
Volume
~108litres~29US gal

An aquarium with base dimensions of 120 ∗ 30 cm48 ∗ 12 in or equivalent should be the smallest considered.

Maintenance

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Not difficult to maintain under the correct conditions; we strongly recommend keeping it in a tank designed to simulate a flowing stream with a substrate of variably-sized rocks, sand, fine gravel, and some water-worn boulders.

This can be further furnished with driftwood branches, terracotta pipes, plant pots, etc., arranged to form a network of nooks, crannies, and shaded spots, thus providing broken lines of sight.

Driftwood in particular is highly-recommended since this species feeds on wood (see 'Diet').

Water conditions

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Temperature
24–30°C75–86°F
pH
6.0–7.0
Hardness
2–10dGH

These recommendations come from this profile’s own figures. They contain affiliate links, so we may earn a commission.

Diet

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This species feeds mainly by rasping wood, so it must be given a selection of driftwood in its aquarium. Proprietary dried foods made for wood-eating fishes can be offered as well.

It should be given a mainly vegetarian diet, with meaty foods kept to a minimum.[1][2]

Sexual dimorphism

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Adult males possess prominent odontodes on the rear portion of the body.

Reproduction

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Has been bred in aquaria.

Notes

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This species is currently banned from export.

References

  1. German, Donovan P. (2009). Inside the guts of wood-eating catfishes: can they digest wood? Journal of Comparative Physiology B 179(8), 1011-1023doi.org/10.1007/s00360-009-0381-1
  2. Lujan, Nathan K.; German, Donovan P.; Winemiller, Kirk O. (2011). Do wood‐grazing fishes partition their niche?: morphological and isotopic evidence for trophic segregation in Neotropical Loricariidae Functional Ecology 25(6), 1327-1338doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2435.2011.01883.x

Species images · 1

Adult specimen from the German aquarium trade.
Adult specimen from the German aquarium trade.Enrico Richter

These photographs are used with each photographer's permission.

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Distribution

Profile completeness19 of 24

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Also missing: taxonomic authority, habitat, water condition notes, behaviour and compatibility.

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