The Loyal Algae Eating Fish for Aquarium: Blue Eyed Plecostomus

The Loyal Algae Eating Fish for Aquarium: Blue Eyed Plecostomus – another of the earliest kept members of the Loricariidae family is this very striking looking Panaque one of two similar blue-eye types, one from the Rio Magdalena Colombia, possibly Panaque cochliodon, (Steindachner 1879) and Panaque suttonorum from the Maracaibo basin Venezuela. There is a small mystery on the identification of those two species notably P.suttonorum and Shane Linder, who resides in Venezuela, has kindly furnished me with additional information on this particular very issue.

Photo copyright from planetcatfish.com 

The Loyal Algae Eating Fish for Aquarium: Blue Eyed Plecostomus

This species grows to 16 inches. It is closely associated with the favorite plecostomus catfish kept as an algae eater in many aquaria, but is instantly distinguished by being dark gray to black and having bright, turquoise coloured eyes. Like other species of the Panaque genus, P. cochliodon feeds mostly on submerged wood.

Blue eyed plecs grow to about 30 cm in length, and like other Panaque spp., they are awkward swimmers accommodated to remaining close the substrate, in particular using the sucker-like mouth to hold on to submerged stone and wood.

As they may be quite quarrelsome using their very own type, it's best to keep one specimen of this species in the tank. Provide hiding places by adding rocks or artificial caves. The water must truly have a current that is good and be well oxygenated to keep this fish content. One of the main facets of having Panaque cochliodon would be to supply wood this fish actually does eat it.

Feeding

This fish is Omnivorous. A basic diet of big pellets, sticks, and wafers as well as chunks of frozen brine shrimp, blood worms, marketplace shrimp, or mussels is easily accepted. Sometimes feed vegetables also such as cucumber, kale, spinach, and canned green beans which have been rinsed well.

Compatibility

There are differing narratives on their compatibility with other tank convicts. You will read in some literature that they are a peaceful species and others, that they may be somewhat quarrelsome. I'd personally keep only one species per tank and if tankmates are justified, big characins in the upper layer which includes the African Congo tetra and likely Corydoras species would do all right as they wouldn't be seen as a hazard.

Supply caverns of some sort for his or her well being and to make them feel more secure in their environment, also provide great water movement in the tank as they do come from oxygen-rich waters. You'll most likely see that you can tame this species in order to take food literally from your hand at feeding time. All in all a family that is rather striking if difficult to keep species in the large Loricariidae.

Decision

The story of the blue-eyed pleco isn't all doom and gloom. Miles commented sixty years back that P. cochliodon was one of the most widely distributed fishes in the Magdalena drainage. Thriving populations of the fish are certain to exist in several tributaries of the Rios Magdalena and Cauca throughout northern Colombia.

In the mid-90s narcotrafficking organizations making commercial group impossible and until recently, most of those regions are under control of various paramilitary groups. Maybe, in the future, this scenario was actually best for old blue eyes as well as the respite from commercial group permitted populations of the fish to grow and re-colonize places from where they have been extirpated.

Breeding

Not been realized in the aquarium as far as I'm conscious. Would need a very large tank to ease a spawning enducement . Successful breeding hasn't yet been reported in captivity. For their large size, they've been considered to be river bank cave spawners.

Extra Information

This species is growing exceptionally expensive and more and more uncommon. Because of its eventual size that is big that is ’, decent filtration and regular partial water changes are a must.