Titan Panaque
Panaque titan
The Titan Panaque is a large loricariid reaching up to 45 cm. Its body is robust, covered with bony plates, with a tall dorsal fin and a lyre-shaped tail. The base color is dark brown to black, adorned with irregular vertical light bands. It has a powerful sucker mouth and rasp-like teeth to scrape wood. It is a nocturnal and rather solitary fish, but tolerant of other peaceful species. It is known for its ecological role as a xylophage (wood-eater) in its natural habitat. In the aquarium, it requires strong filtration and well-oxygenated water.
Recommended parameters
| Parameter | Recommended range |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 24–28 |
| pH | 6–7.5 |
| GH | 5–15 |
| KH | 2–8 |
| NO₃ | ≤ 30 |
| PO₄ | ≤ 0.5 |
Care
Care notes
Maintain a temperature of 24-28°C, pH 6.0-7.5, and GH 5-15. A large aquarium of at least 400 liters is required due to its adult size. The diet must include wood (roots, branches) as the main source of fiber, supplemented with blanched vegetables (zucchini, cucumber) and meaty foods (worms, shrimp). It is sensitive to water quality; regular water changes (30% weekly) are essential. Avoid aggressive or very small tankmates; choose peaceful medium to large fish. Moderate to strong current is appreciated. Breeding in captivity is very rare and poorly documented.