how big do royals get?

[Oddball]

Not bad. My biggest Panaque was my Titanic at 3 feet.

 

[woodchomper]

My royal was 21" when it passed away at 8 years old. It had finished growing at 6 years.

A Panaque growing 21 inches in 6 years? Thats almost unbelievable!

 

[WyldFya]

A Panaque growing 21 inches in 6 years? Thats almost unbelievable!

Given proper care it is very possible.

 

[WyldFya]

how big do royal plecos get? ive got about a 5 inch one and wondering if he would grow anymore

That depends on the type of "royal" pleco you are talking about. Some get larger than others.

 

[oscar...]

Oddball thats mad growth rate! If you dont mind posting how did you do it?

 

[Oddball]

Oddball thats mad growth rate! If you dont mind posting how did you do it?

200+ lbs of driftwood in a 650 gal. 30-50% weekly water changes. 80% fresh foods/20% sticks & hi-protein foods. Lots of raw shell-on shrimp, zucchini, pumpkin, apple, cabbage, pear, earthworms, crayfish, gammarus, beef heart, etc. And, no harassing tankmates.

 

[Muske]

Sounds like a good recipe for any non-meaty pleco.

 

[woodchomper]

200+ lbs of driftwood in a 650 gal. 30-50% weekly water changes. 80% fresh foods/20% sticks & hi-protein foods. Lots of raw shell-on shrimp, zucchini, pumpkin, apple, cabbage, pear, earthworms, crayfish, gammarus, beef heart, etc. And, no harassing tankmates.

good info, i know oscar keeps large Panaque and i used to.

btw your titanic rocks, reminds me of the one in Amazon Abyss.

Not sure if Akoh is or was a member here but im sure he would appreciate it, he keeps at least 3 iirc over 22 inches with some serious interopercular odontodes

 

[T time]

The extra quick growth rate could be attributed to the protein portion of the diet. Recently dietary analysis on a wild panaque population showed that they consume much more protein in the wild then what is commonly thought by aquarist. I'll try to look up the link.

 

[oscar...]

200+ lbs of driftwood in a 650 gal. 30-50% weekly water changes. 80% fresh foods/20% sticks & hi-protein foods. Lots of raw shell-on shrimp, zucchini, pumpkin, apple, cabbage, pear, earthworms, crayfish, gammarus, beef heart, etc. And, no harassing tankmates.

Cheers bud, 'gammarus' had to look that up!! I have seen good growth out of royals before but nothing as good as that. Then again I have not had that sp of royal yet and I cant see me getting any more growth out of my bigger ones. Time for a move around I think.............

Great looking plecs Oddball