L226 Iquitos Tiger Pleco – Panaqolus changae | Rare Wild-Caught & Peaceful Wood-Eater

The L226 Iquitos Tiger Pleco (Panaqolus changae) is a beautiful, rare wild-caught fish from the Iquitos region in Peru. Its high-contrast tiger pattern with bright orange-brown and dark transverse stripes makes it a true jewel for any South American aquarium.

The Panaqolus changae remains small with a maximum size of about 10–12 cm and is one of the most peaceful representatives of its genus. It is a typical wood-eater that likes to stay on roots and is ideally suited for community aquariums due to its calm behavior.

🌿 Characteristics & Keeping:
🐠 Fish size: M (5–6 cm)
🌎 Origin: Peru (Iquitos region, Amazon) – Wild-caught
🌡️ Temperature: 25–30 °C
💧 pH value: 6.0–7.5
⚖️ Total hardness: up to 18 °dGH
🐟 Social behavior: Peaceful, calm, territorial towards conspecifics
🌾 Aquarium: From 120 l, with roots, caves, stones & light current

🍽️ Feeding:
The L226 Iquitos Tiger Pleco is a typical wood-eater (xylophagous). It needs soft driftwood in the aquarium, which it constantly rasps at. In addition, it eats plant-based food such as spirulina, vegetable chips, zucchini, cucumber, and algae wafers. Occasionally, some frozen food can be offered.

💡 Tip:
Good oxygen supply, regular water changes, and a well-structured tank with many roots are crucial for health and well-being. On dark substrate, the colors of the L226 glow particularly intensely.

👉 Conclusion:
The L226 Iquitos Tiger Pleco (Panaqolus changae) is a peaceful, small, wild-caught fish with a striking tiger pattern – ideal for lovers of beautifully patterned wood-eaters from the Amazon.