Royal Pleco (Panaque sp.)

Royal plecos belong to Panaque, a genus with genuinely unusual spoon-shaped teeth built to rasp through driftwood, and gut flora capable of breaking down wood cellulose for real nutrition — a trick vanishingly few vertebrates can pull off. Long, elegant fin rays and bold striping make this one of the most striking large plecos in the trade, but that wood-processing gut means driftwood isn't optional.

Care level: Moderate · Temperament: Peaceful · Max size: ~17" · Min tank: 75 gal (adult) · Diet: Omnivore, wood + algae wafers