L027a ‘Platinum’ Royal Pleco ‘Rio Fresco’ (Panaque cf. armbrusteri ‘Rio Fresco’)

One of the most beautifully marked variants of Royal Pleco, the Platinum or Long Nose Royal Pleco is found in Brazil’s Rio Xingu and its tributaries. The Rio Fresco locale is collected in that river, a blackwater tributary that joins the Xingu near Sao Felix. This variant is characterized by a more elongated body than other Royal Plecos and a base coloration of whitish silver (as opposed to brown or green) which becomes more pronounced as they grow. Like all Royal Plecos they are wood eaters by nature, and should be offered plenty of driftwood in the aquarium. Conditions in the aquarium should be as close to their wild habitat as possible, with moderate to strong current, warm temperatures, and excellent water quality. Due to their specialized diet, we recommend providing driftwood for grazing and feeding a specialty diet like Repashy Morning Wood.