Blue Panaque (L239)

Baryancistrus beggini, the L239 blue panaque, is a small loricariid catfish from the upper Orinoco drainage of Colombia and Venezuela, where it grazes biofilm and algae on rocks in warm, fast-flowing, oxygen-rich water. Adults are a uniform slate blue-grey and reach about 11 cm. Despite the 'panaque' trade name it is not a heavy wood-eater; it is primarily a grazing herbivore that needs abundant aufwuchs plus vegetable foods such as blanched courgette, spinach and quality algae wafers, with only modest protein. Keep it in at least 150 litres with strong flow, high oxygen, smooth stones and driftwood for grazing and cover. It is territorial toward other bottom dwellers, so give each specimen its own space. Water should be warm and soft to neutral, 25-29°C, pH 5.5-7.2.