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No federal permit to keepBlue panaque
Baryancistrus beggini
Fishes › Catfish (Siluriformes) › Loricariidae (Plecos)
Baryancistrus beggini, the blue panaque, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Loricariidae, the suckermouth armoured catfishes, and the subfamily Hypostominae, the suckermouth catfishes.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 3.2 in / 8.09 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Layout: An open-water swimmer: needs long, open swimming space with few obstacles.
- Availability: Rarely or never seen in the aquarium trade; expect to source it from specialists or not at all.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Tank: a base of at least 31 × 12 in (roughly 19 US gallons); space needed is rated “modest tank”.
- Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 79–86 °F, pH 5.5–7.5, 1–10 dGH.
- Behaviour: temperament peaceful; kept alone; suited to a community tank.
- Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “Not difficult to maintain under the correct conditions but largely unsuitable for the 'general' community aquarium.”
- Diet: “Gut analyses of wild specimens revealed the diet to be composed chiefly of periphyton and associated microorganisms, meaning this species is not as herbivorous as some other members of the genus (see 'Notes').”
- Tankmates: “Relatively peaceful but not recommended for the 'general' community aquarium due to its somewhat delicate nature.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Plecos (suckermouth catfish)
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: South American rivers. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- Driftwood (some species rasp it for fiber), caves and good flow.
- Common plecos reach 18–24 in; many smaller species stay under 6 in.
Diet
- Algae wafers and vegetables for herbivores; meaty foods for carnivorous species.
Health watch
- Starvation if they're expected to live on algae alone.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
It is found in Venezuela and Colombia, where it can be found in areas with boulders or interstices of granitic bedrock in exposed portions of the Guiana Shield. It reaches 8.1 cm (3.2 in) in standard length.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Baryancistrus beggini” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater. This species is collected from the interstices of granitic bedrock and boulders that constitute exposed portions of the Guyana Shield. Apparently feeds on periphyton and associated microfauna that are abundant on surfaces and undersides of rocks in this habitat. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | Baryancistrus beggini, the blue panaque, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Loricariidae, the suckermouth armoured catfishes, and the subfamily Hypostominae, the suckermouth catfishes. It is found in Venezuela and Colombia, where it can be found in areas with boulders or interstices of granitic bedrock in exposed portions of the Guiana Shield. It reaches 8.1 cm in standard length. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Wild diet | It is reported to feed on periphyton and associated microfauna abundant on the surfaces and undersides of rocks in its habitat. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Biology | This species is collected from the interstices of granitic bedrock and boulders that constitute exposed portions of the Guyana Shield. Apparently feeds on periphyton and associated microfauna that are abundant on surfaces and undersides of rocks in this habitat. — FishBase |
| History and naming | In the article where this species is described, the authors mention that the specific epithet refers to Chris D. Beggin. He owns a fish and reptile retail shop in Nashville, USA, and is honored due to his financial support of the authors' research, ethical ornamental-fish business practices, and influence on the professional development of the first author, Nathan K. Lujan. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as standard length (snout to the base of the tail, not counting the tail fin). Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates; aim for the middle.
pH
Water hardness
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 31 × 12 in (about 19 US gallons).
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of aquarium fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional diseases of fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Seriously Fish — Ancistrus sp. “3” / common bristlenose identification Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.
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