Still confused about Royals - specifically Xingu

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I had a choice friday that goldline or a weeksii and I've been hunting for a weeksii for a year. I would of gotten a pic when I was there but he was hiding behind some plants and I couldn't get a pic
 
DHarris said:
Apologies as I know this has been discussed many times before but most of the searches I've done, no longer come up with the images showing. I also see a lot of contradictions. While I love planetcatfish, it seems they bundle some of the fish in their descriptions as well, which doesn't help.

Here's my basic question; A LFS I frequent just reached out to me with their latest pleco shipment. They supposedly got in some "rare" Xingu Royals. I've attached a picture they sent me, unfortunately the lighting isn't great.

While I have a lot of plecos, I've only got one royal, which was sold to me as a Goldline. I think it's an Araguaia. I've attached a picture from the store's instagram when they first got that one in. I've had it for a few months now and when it comes out to feed it get's a very bight gold color to it's stripes. It HATES having it's picture taken and immediately hides whenever it sees my camera come out - no good pictures to share.

Back to the Xingu. I've read that the common name Xingu covers all 3 L27s. I've also read that it's the L190. WHAT IS IT?!? More specifically, what does the one in this picture appear to be. I'd like to get my hands on a platinum royal - which I've also seen called Xingu. Any chance this is that?

Really appreciate any enlightenment!

On a completely separate note, I've come across three blue eyed royals lately. A couple are in the 6-7" range and would fit fine in my tank. I've been told by some of the store owners that they're very aggressive for a pleco and will destroy my current inhabitants. I've also seen youtube videos of them mixed in groups of other blue eyes and royals. For those who have them, what's the reality? Will I be creating problems by adding one or do I just need to experiment and see how it goes?

Thanks again!

View attachment 1295560 View attachment 1295561
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Hi there,
Nice Royals. I would say the one on top picture is Xingu. The second picture is Tapajos.

I have one looks just like your Tapajos. Very nice.

You can take a picture of the teeth of your Xingu, they are different pattern compare the regular L190.
Keep posting royal pics, they are the best plecos !
 
Again, I appreciate all the advice here!

Stopped in yesterday at my LFS that had the Xingu royals. Most were sick and in a quarantine tank, a couple had already dies. The only one out for sale was VERY dark. Will wait to see how the ones in quarantine do. They all appeared to be a bit different from each other, curious to see what they really are once settled in a bit and healthy.

Today I stopped at another LFS, who had a bunch of very small royals. Most appeared to be L190 & L191 - to my eyes. There was one in the group that looked different and I may go back this week to pick it up.
Sorry for the terrible pictures, it was in a scratched acrylic tank and the LED lighting they had was messing with my phone a bit.
The lighter stripes were a light grey color.

Is this also a Xingu or something else. Platinum?

Curious to hear thoughts.

unnamed-2.jpg unnamed-3.jpg unnamed-4.jpg
 
DHarris said:
Again, I appreciate all the advice here!

Stopped in yesterday at my LFS that had the Xingu royals. Most were sick and in a quarantine tank, a couple had already dies. The only one out for sale was VERY dark. Will wait to see how the ones in quarantine do. They all appeared to be a bit different from each other, curious to see what they really are once settled in a bit and healthy.

Today I stopped at another LFS, who had a bunch of very small royals. Most appeared to be L190 & L191 - to my eyes. There was one in the group that looked different and I may go back this week to pick it up.
Sorry for the terrible pictures, it was in a scratched acrylic tank and the LED lighting they had was messing with my phone a bit.
The lighter stripes were a light grey color.

Is this also a Xingu or something else. Platinum?

Curious to hear thoughts.

View attachment 1296395 View attachment 1296396 View attachment 1296397
Click to expand...

L190 you can tell because the V of their teeth is about 60 degrees whereas the L027 is about 90 degrees
 
thefredpit said:
anytime =) the funny thing is I can never remember which is which so have to go to planet catfish to remind myself
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I love planetcatfish. Such a great resource and something I use frequently, especially when in the shops trying to make identifications. Unfortunately I've found it to be a bit confusing when it comes to the Royals.

Another question regarding Royal aggression; It was mentioned that the blue eyes can be pretty brutal, are all Royals that way when larger? The same store that has this small L190 has a fully spotted L330 that about 12" and $150. Was thinking of picking it up as it's quite something but am concerned it might destroy my 6"-7" Goldline.
Is mixing Royals of different sized problematic or OK?
Tank is 150 gallons with a decent amount of wood.
 
DHarris said:
I love planetcatfish. Such a great resource and something I use frequently, especially when in the shops trying to make identifications. Unfortunately I've found it to be a bit confusing when it comes to the Royals.

Another question regarding Royal aggression; It was mentioned that the blue eyes can be pretty brutal, are all Royals that way when larger? The same store that has this small L190 has a fully spotted L330 that about 12" and $150. Was thinking of picking it up as it's quite something but am concerned it might destroy my 6"-7" Goldline.
Is mixing Royals of different sized problematic or OK?
Tank is 150 gallons with a decent amount of wood.
Click to expand...

They are powerful at large size just give them a lot of hiding place. The large royals dnt usually evening notice the smaller ones buy your 6-7” is not small either.

Also I still think your gold line is a araguaia from it big forehead Tapajos have longer snout and flatter body your is tall and have a short snout.
 
Do you feel a 12" L330 would be a risk in a 150 with my Goldline? Better off waiting to find a smaller one?

I do agree that my Goldline is an araguaia. It's shape is the same as what I'm seeing in pictures, definitely a high body and short snout. The colors are amazing on it. I just wish it was a bit more photogenic. As soon as it sees a camera it runs off and hides.

I'll put some veggies in there and see if it'll come out for a photo-op.

Obviously, "best" is an opinion but is there a ranking of price/desireability for royals?
Curious to see sort of what the pecking order is as prices seem to be all over the place.
That little 3" L190 I found yesterday was $40. My 6"-7" Goldline was about six times that. Not sure if I overpaid or not but had never seen one in person and wasn't leaving without it.
 
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