L398 Tanke Tiger Pleco - (Panaqolus tankei)

Fish Details, Description and Information Below:

🐯 L398 Tanke Tiger Pleco – (Panaqolus tankei) – Wild-Caught Lower Rio Xingu Pleco

Name: L398 Tanke Tiger Pleco For Sale Online (Panaqolus tankei)
SKU: 69064
Price: 55.0 USD
Availability: InStock

The L398 Tanke Tiger Pleco (Panaqolus tankei) is a beautifully patterned Brazilian pleco recognized by its alternating dark and light tiger-like bands, compact adult size, active personality, and strong association with submerged wood.

Unlike many L-number plecos that remain scientifically undescribed, L398 received a formal scientific name in 2016:

Panaqolus tankei

The species is endemic to the:

LOWER RIO XINGU IN PARÁ, BRAZIL

where it is found primarily around:

Fallen trees
Submerged wood
Woody debris
Riverbank structure

The Tanke Tiger Pleco is a wood-grazing, detritus-oriented omnivore. Natural driftwood should be an important part of its aquarium environment, but wood should not be treated as its entire diet or described as something required specifically for digestion.

This listing is for:

WILD-CAUGHT L398 TANKE TIGER PLECOS

🔎 Quick Facts – L398 Tanke Tiger Pleco

📛 Common Name: Tanke Tiger Pleco
📛 Other Names: Tankei Tiger Pleco, L398 Pleco, Altamira Wood-Grazing Pleco
🔢 L-Number: L398
🔬 Scientific Name: Panaqolus tankei
📅 Formally Described: 2016
🐟 Family: Loricariidae
🧬 Subfamily: Hypostominae
🌿 Stock: Wild Caught
🇧🇷 Country: Brazil
📍 State: Pará
🌊 Native River: Rio Xingu
📍 Native Range: Lower Rio Xingu downstream of the Belo Monte waterfalls
🪵 Natural Habitat: Fallen trees and submerged wood along riverbanks
🌊 Documented Habitat Depth: Approximately 1–10 meters
💧 Water Type: Freshwater
📏 Adult Planning Size: Approximately 5–6 inches
🏠 Recommended Aquarium: Approximately 30 gallons or larger
👥 Groups: Approximately 40–55+ gallons depending on bottom area
🌡️ Temperature: Approximately 77–84°F
💧 pH: Approximately 6.0–7.5
💦 Water: Soft to moderately mineralized
💨 Oxygenation: High
🌊 Water Movement: Moderate
🍽️ Diet: Wood-Grazing / Detritus-Leaning Omnivore
🪵 Driftwood: Strongly Recommended
🌿 Plant / Algae Foods: Important
🦐 Animal / Insect Protein: Supplemental
🚫 Algae Cleaner: Should not be purchased solely for algae control
💩 Bioload: Moderate to High for its size
😌 Temperament: Generally peaceful
⚠️ Pleco Temperament: Mature males may defend caves and feeding areas
☀️ Daytime Activity: Often more visible than many plecos
🌙 Activity: Crepuscular / nocturnal with regular daytime activity possible
🥚 Breeding: Confirmed Cave Spawner
👨‍👧 Parental Care: Male guards the clutch
♂️ Male Trait: Strong caudal-peduncle odontodes when mature
⭐ Care Level: Intermediate
🌎 IUCN Status: Not Evaluated

🧬 L398 Is Now a Formally Described Species

Older aquarium references identify this fish as:

Panaqolus sp. L398

That identification is outdated.

In:

2016

Christian Cramer and Leandro Melo de Sousa formally described L398 as:

Panaqolus tankei

The correct modern identification is therefore:

**L398 Tanke Tiger Pleco – (Panaqolus tankei)**

🔢 L398

The fish originally entered the aquarium hobby under the designation:

L398

and was introduced under that number in:

2005

The L-number remains useful because aquarium keepers recognize the fish strongly by:

L398

even though it now has a valid scientific name.

👨‍🔬 Who Is the Tanke Tiger Named After?

The species name:

tankei

honors German aquarist:

Andreas Tanke

who became especially well known for his work with:

Panaqolus

He studied:

Husbandry
Identification
Behavior
Breeding
Natural habitats

and helped improve communication between aquarium keepers and professional scientists.

He was also probably the:

FIRST PERSON TO SUCCESSFULLY BREED L398 IN CAPTIVITY

🎨 Appearance

L398 develops an attractive combination of:

Dark brown
Chocolate brown
Gray-brown
Nearly black

bands separated by lighter:

Cream
Tan
Yellow-brown
Golden
Pale brown

areas.

🐯 Tiger Pattern

The defining pattern consists of:

ALTERNATING DARK AND LIGHT BARS

across the body.

An important scientific identification characteristic is that the:

DARK AND LIGHT BARS ARE GENERALLY SIMILAR IN WIDTH

This helps distinguish P. tankei from some related Panaqolus in which the dark bands are two or three times wider than the pale areas.

🎨 Fin Pattern

The tiger pattern continues through the:

Dorsal fin
Pectoral fins
Pelvic fins
Caudal fin

creating attractive alternating bands.

🧑 Head Pattern

The head generally has:

Dark lines
Light lines
Relatively organized markings

rather than the extensive worm-like head vermiculations seen in some related species.

🔄 Geographic Pattern Variation

Not every L398 looks identical.

The original scientific description noted differences between fish from different portions of the lower Xingu.

Fish from the:

PORTO DE MOZ REGION

near the mouth of the Xingu were observed with:

MORE NUMEROUS AND FINER LINES ON THE SNOUT

than typical specimens farther upstream.

However, scientists did not have enough preserved material to determine whether those fish represent:

Geographic variation

or:

Another closely related undescribed form.

Therefore:

DO NOT IDENTIFY LOCALITY BASED ONLY ON PATTERN

⚠️ Color & Pattern Disclaimer

Individual L398 may vary naturally in:

Bar width
Head markings
Yellow coloration
Body darkness
Fin markings
Contrast

Appearance can also change because of:

Stress
Shipping
Lighting
Diet
Aquarium background
Water quality
Acclimation

Exact adult pattern cannot be guaranteed.

🌎 Native Distribution

Panaqolus tankei is endemic to:

BRAZIL

and is currently scientifically known from the:

LOWER RIO XINGU

in:

PARÁ

🌊 Downstream of Belo Monte

The original scientific description states that the species is known from the lower Xingu:

DOWNSTREAM OF THE BELO MONTE WATERFALLS

This is much more precise than simply listing the origin as:

Amazon Basin

or:

South America

📍 Type Locality

The holotype was collected from the:

RIO XINGU

approximately:

17 KM SOUTH OF SENADOR JOSÉ PORFÍRIO

in Pará, Brazil.

Additional scientific specimens were collected from areas including:

Vitória do Xingu
Lower Rio Xingu
Areas toward Porto de Moz

🪵 Natural Habitat

One of the best-documented characteristics of L398 is its association with:

SUBMERGED WOOD

Researchers found the species primarily on:

Fallen trees
Sunken logs
Woody debris

along the riverbank.

🌊 Habitat Depth

Scientific observations recorded L398 at approximately:

1–10 METERS DEEP

This demonstrates that the species can occupy a range of riverbank depths rather than being restricted to extremely shallow water.

🪵 Wood Is Central to Its Natural Lifestyle

L398 spends substantial time:

Resting on wood
Rasping wood surfaces
Feeding around woody debris
Hiding among submerged branches

A proper aquarium should therefore contain:

SUBSTANTIAL NATURAL DRIFTWOOD

🪵 Driftwood Is Strongly Recommended

Provide several pieces of aquarium-safe wood.

Driftwood supplies:

Natural grazing surfaces
Biofilm
Detritus
Microorganisms
Shelter
Shade
Territory boundaries
Environmental enrichment

⚠️ Important Wood-Diet Clarification

L398 is commonly described simply as a:

WOOD EATER

That description is useful but incomplete.

Panaqolus scrape and ingest wood, but aquarium wood should not be considered:

A COMPLETE FOOD

and I would not claim that wood is required specifically:

“FOR DIGESTION.”

A better description is:

WOOD-GRAZING / DETRITUS-ORIENTED OMNIVORE

🍽️ Diet

A proper L398 diet should contain:

Wood-associated biofilm
Plant matter
Algae-containing prepared foods
Fiber-rich foods
Vegetables
Quality sinking foods

with modest amounts of:

Insect foods
Frozen foods
Animal protein

🌿 Staple Foods

Good staple foods include:

Quality algae wafers
Spirulina wafers
Vegetable-based pleco pellets
Fiber-rich sinking foods
Quality gel diets
Foods designed for grazing loricariids

🥒 Fresh Vegetables

Suitable vegetables include:

Zucchini
Squash
Pumpkin
Green beans
Sweet potato
Appropriate leafy greens

Rotate foods for greater nutritional variety.

🦐 Supplemental Protein

L398 will also consume animal and insect-based foods.

Suitable occasional foods include:

Mysis shrimp
Brine shrimp
Bloodworms
Mosquito larvae
Insect-based sinking pellets
Quality omnivore foods

⚠️ Avoid an Extremely High-Protein Diet

The L398 should not be fed like a:

Vampire Pleco
Cactus Pleco
Predatory catfish

Its feeding program should remain primarily:

PLANT / BIOFILM / DETRITUS / GRAZING ORIENTED

with protein supplying variety.

🚫 Not Just an Algae Cleaner

L398 may consume:

Soft algae
Biofilm
Organic coatings

but it should:

NOT BE PURCHASED SIMPLY TO CLEAN AN AQUARIUM

Intentional feeding remains necessary.

💩 Expect Wood-Related Waste

Like other Panaqolus, L398 can produce surprising amounts of:

FINE SAWDUST-LIKE WASTE

from grazing wood.

This material often collects:

Beneath driftwood
Behind rocks
Around caves
In low-flow areas

💩 Filtration

Good mechanical filtration helps remove:

Feces
Fine wood particles
Excess food
Organic debris

Suitable filtration may include:

Canister filters
Hang-on-back filters
Sponge filtration
Sump filtration

🔄 Regular Maintenance

Vacuum excessive debris from beneath:

Wood
Rocks
Caves

while allowing healthy:

BIOFILM

to remain on natural grazing surfaces.

📏 Adult Size

The original scientific specimens included individuals exceeding:

8 CM STANDARD LENGTH

but aquarium records document larger mature fish.

Specialist husbandry sources generally place adult L398 around:

12–15 CM TOTAL LENGTH

or approximately:

5–6 INCHES

For responsible customer planning:

EXPECT APPROXIMATELY 5–6 INCHES

🏠 Aquarium Size

For one L398:

30 GALLONS OR LARGER

provides a good permanent starting point.

For:

Groups
Breeding colonies
Multiple plecos

consider:

40–55+ GALLONS

depending on aquarium footprint.

📐 Bottom Area Matters

L398 spends most of its time around:

Wood
Caves
Substrate

so:

LENGTH + WIDTH

are more useful than excessive aquarium height.

🪵 Aquarium Setup

A good L398 aquarium should include:

Several pieces of driftwood
Ceramic pleco caves
Rock crevices
Smooth rocks
Slate
Sand or smooth gravel
Shaded areas
Open feeding areas
Good filtration
Good oxygenation

🏠 Caves

Although wood is central to the natural habitat, captive L398 also make excellent use of:

Ceramic pleco tubes
Wooden cavities
Slate caves
Rock crevices

Caves become especially important for mature males.

👥 Provide More Caves Than Fish

For groups:

PROVIDE MORE CAVES THAN PLECOS

This reduces competition and gives subordinate fish alternative territories.

🌡️ Temperature

A practical long-term range is:

77–84°F / 25–29°C

Some specialist sources maintain the species somewhat warmer, but approximately:

78–82°F

works well for many established fish.

💧 Water Parameters

A practical maintenance range is:

🌡️ Temperature: Approximately 77–84°F
💧 pH: Approximately 6.0–7.5
💦 Hardness: Soft to moderately mineralized
💨 Oxygenation: High
🌊 Water Movement: Moderate
☠️ Ammonia: 0 ppm
☠️ Nitrite: 0 ppm
🔄 Nitrate: Keep reasonably low

💨 Oxygenation

Good oxygenation is important.

Use:

Surface agitation
Air stones
Sponge filters
Strong filter returns
Appropriate circulation

🌊 Water Movement

L398 comes from a large river system, but its microhabitat is strongly associated with:

WOOD ALONG THE RIVERBANK

Therefore, I would avoid describing it as requiring extreme torrent conditions.

Provide:

MODERATE CIRCULATION + HIGH OXYGENATION

with sheltered areas among wood and caves.

😌 Temperament

L398 is generally:

PEACEFUL

and is one of the easier Panaqolus to incorporate into a suitable community aquarium.

🐠 Tankmates

Potential tankmates can include appropriately selected:

Tetras
Rasboras
Corydoras
Dwarf cichlids
Peaceful community fish
Other compatible plecos

provided their temperature requirements overlap.

⚠️ Territorial Behavior

Mature L398 can become territorial around:

Caves
Favorite wood
Feeding areas

This is particularly true of:

MATURE MALES

👥 Group Housing

L398 can be maintained in groups when provided with:

Multiple wood pieces
Multiple caves
Several feeding areas
Adequate bottom territory

☀️ Often Visible During the Day

One appealing characteristic of L398 is that it can be:

MORE DAY-ACTIVE THAN MANY PLECOS

Established fish may:

Graze wood during daylight
Rest openly
Explore the aquarium
Feed before lights out

A well-structured aquarium helps the fish feel secure enough to remain visible.

🌙 Night Activity

Even though it can be active during daylight, activity generally increases:

At dusk
During feeding
After lights dim

🧪 Wild-Caught Acclimation

This listing is for:

WILD-CAUGHT L398 TANKE TIGER PLECOS

After arrival:

Provide immediate driftwood
Provide caves
Keep lighting subdued initially
Maintain good oxygenation
Avoid abrupt temperature changes
Avoid abrupt pH changes
Maintain clean water
Confirm feeding

🍽️ Confirm Feeding

Offer food:

Near driftwood
Near caves
At dusk
After lights dim
In several locations

Watch for:

Sunken abdomen
Weight loss
Persistent hiding without feeding

♂️ Male vs. Female

The original scientific description documented clear sexual dimorphism in mature fish.

Mature Males

Develop:

LONG, STRONG ODONTODES ON THE CAUDAL PEDUNCLE

The rear portion of the body can develop a:

Bristled
Hairy
Furry

appearance.

Males also commonly develop stronger odontodes on the:

Pectoral-fin spines

Mature Females

Generally:

Have much shorter caudal-peduncle odontodes
Develop a fuller abdomen when carrying eggs
Appear broader through the belly

⚠️ Juveniles Are Difficult to Sex

Young fish may not yet display reliable sexual characteristics.

Unless confidently identified:

SELL AS UNSEXED

🥚 Captive Breeding – Confirmed

L398 has been:

SUCCESSFULLY BRED IN CAPTIVITY

Breeding was documented even before the species received its scientific name.

🏠 Cave Spawner

The Tanke Tiger Pleco is a:

CAVE-SPAWNING LORICARIID

Mature males select and defend:

Ceramic caves
Narrow tubes
Wood cavities
Similar enclosed shelters

💕 Spawning

Typical breeding behavior includes:

A mature male selects a cave.
A receptive female enters.
Spawning occurs inside.
The eggs are fertilized.
The female eventually leaves.
The male remains with the clutch.

👨‍👧 Male Parental Care

After spawning:

THE MALE GUARDS THE EGGS

He remains inside the cave and helps:

Protect the clutch
Fan the eggs
Maintain water movement
Guard developing fry

🌧️ Seasonal Breeding Triggers

An especially interesting observation from the scientific description is that aquarium spawning appears to be influenced by:

SEASONAL CHANGES IN WATER QUALITY AND TEMPERATURE

This may reflect natural seasonal cycles in the lower Rio Xingu.

💧 Breeding Stimulation

Experienced breeders may experiment with:

Larger water changes
Changes in water temperature
Softer incoming water
Increased feeding
Strong conditioning

However:

NO SINGLE METHOD GUARANTEES SPAWNING

👶 Raising Fry

Once the yolk sac is absorbed, young L398 can receive:

Fine plant-based foods
Spirulina foods
Fine sinking pellets
Quality gel foods
Biofilm
Small amounts of appropriate animal foods

🪵 Provide Wood to Fry

Young L398 should have access to:

SMALL PIECES OF DRIFTWOOD

for:

Shelter
Natural grazing
Biofilm
Normal behavior

However:

WOOD ALONE IS NOT A COMPLETE FRY DIET

🧬 Preserve L398 Lines

Because several similar tiger-patterned Panaqolus exist in Brazil:

PRESERVE THE L398 IDENTITY

Keep records of:

Scientific name
L-number
Supplier
Locality when known
Parentage of captive-bred fish

🆚 L398 vs. L397

L398 should not be confused with:

L397 TANGERINE TIGER PLECO

They are:

DIFFERENT L-NUMBER FORMS

L398

Formally described as Panaqolus tankei
Lower Rio Xingu
Pará, Brazil
Brown/yellow tiger pattern
Dark and pale bars generally similar in width

L397

Still normally identified as Panaqolus sp. L397
Different Brazilian drainage/locality
Often much stronger orange/tangerine coloration
Separate aquarium lineage

⚠️ Do Not Mix Breeding Lines

Even when two Panaqolus look similar:

KEEP IDENTIFIED L-NUMBER LINES SEPARATE

if maintaining pure aquarium lineages is important.

🌎 Conservation Status

Panaqolus tankei currently does not have a formal IUCN Red List assessment.

Therefore:

IUCN STATUS: NOT EVALUATED

is the appropriate wording.

🌊 Belo Monte Considerations

The original species description discusses the:

BELO MONTE HYDROELECTRIC DEVELOPMENT

on the Rio Xingu.

L398's known range is primarily:

DOWNSTREAM OF THE DIRECTLY IMPACTED AREA

so its principal habitats were not expected to be destroyed directly by the dam.

However, changes in:

Water flow
Seasonal cycles
Water quality
Regional development

can still affect downstream environments.

⚠️ Not Evaluated Does Not Mean No Conservation Concerns

The absence of an IUCN assessment does not prove that the species faces no threats.

Responsible sourcing and permanent care remain especially important for:

WILD-CAUGHT FISH

⭐ Why Keep an L398 Tanke Tiger Pleco?

The L398 combines:

🐯 Attractive tiger-like banding
🟡 Warm yellow and tan coloration
🇧🇷 Lower Rio Xingu origin
🪵 Fascinating wood-grazing behavior
📏 Manageable approximately 5–6 inch adult size
😌 Generally peaceful temperament
☀️ Good potential for daytime visibility
🥚 Confirmed captive breeding
👨‍👧 Male parental care
🧬 Formally described scientific identity

into an excellent Panaqolus for aquarists who enjoy smaller wood-associated plecos.

⚠️ Important Considerations

Before purchasing an L398 Tanke Tiger Pleco:

The correct scientific name is Panaqolus tankei.
L398 is no longer scientifically undescribed.
The species was formally described in 2016.
It was originally introduced to aquarists as L398 in 2005.
The species was named after aquarist Andreas Tanke.
L398 originates from Pará, Brazil.
Its scientifically confirmed range is the lower Rio Xingu downstream of the Belo Monte waterfalls.
Wild fish are strongly associated with fallen trees and submerged wood.
Scientific habitat observations range from approximately 1–10 meters deep.
This listing is for wild-caught fish.
Adult aquarium specimens generally reach approximately 5–6 inches.
Provide approximately 30 gallons or larger.
Use larger aquariums for groups.
Provide substantial natural driftwood.
Wood is an important grazing surface and habitat feature.
Do not treat wood as the complete diet.
Do not claim wood is required specifically for digestion.
Feed plant-, biofilm-, and detritus-oriented foods.
Provide modest supplemental animal and insect protein.
Do not maintain L398 on a heavy carnivore diet.
Do not purchase L398 solely as an algae cleaner.
Expect fine wood-related waste.
Maintain strong mechanical and biological filtration.
Maintain approximately 77–84°F.
Maintain pH around 6.0–7.5.
Maintain good to high dissolved oxygen.
Moderate water movement is appropriate.
L398 can be surprisingly active during daylight.
Mature males develop long caudal-peduncle odontodes.
Captive breeding is well documented.
L398 is a cave spawner.
Males guard the eggs and fry.
Seasonal changes in temperature and water quality may influence spawning.
Keep L398 breeding lines separate from similar Panaqolus.
The species is currently Not Evaluated by the IUCN.
Never release aquarium fish into natural waterways.

🧬 Taxonomy

The currently accepted scientific name is:

Panaqolus tankei Cramer & Melo de Sousa, 2016

Classification:

Order: Siluriformes
Family: Loricariidae
Subfamily: Hypostominae
Genus: Panaqolus
Species: tankei
L-Number: L398

Native range:

LOWER RIO XINGU – PARÁ, BRAZIL

For this product, use:

**L398 Tanke Tiger Pleco – (Panaqolus tankei)**

🔢 L-Number & Locality Disclaimer

L398 remains the established aquarium designation for Panaqolus tankei.

Because similar tiger-patterned Panaqolus occur in several Brazilian river systems, preserve:

L398 designation
Scientific name
Supplier information
Collection locality when known
Breeding records

Do not identify unrelated tiger-patterned Panaqolus as L398 based solely on coloration.

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Shipping availability depends on:

Fish size
Destination
Weather conditions
Carrier availability
Applicable state and local regulations

Please review our Shipping & Payment Information and Live Arrival Guarantee / DOA Policy before ordering.

⚠️ Buyer Responsibility

Customers are responsible for confirming that Panaqolus tankei may legally be purchased, possessed, transported, and received in their state or local jurisdiction before ordering.

Never release aquarium fish into natural waterways.