Blood Red Tiger Pleco (Panaqolus claustellifer)
A compact, striking Loricariid with vivid blood-red stripes on dark bars — one of the most eye-catching Tiger Plecos in the hobby.
Will it live with a Blood Red Tiger Pleco?
We compare each fish against your blood red tiger pleco on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.
- Agassiz's Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Agassiz's Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Betta✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 6.5 cm · Easy care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Black Skirt Tetra✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Black Skirt Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Blackline Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Blackline Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Butterfly Hillstream Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Hard care · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Desert Goby✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Diamond Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Diamond Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Eastern Betta✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Elegant Cory✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Elegant Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- False Julii Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep False Julii Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- German Blue Ram✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Hard care · 27–30 °C (81–86 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Glass Bloodfin Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Glass Bloodfin Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- GloFish Tetra✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 21–28 °C (70–82 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep GloFish Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Guppy✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Hillstream Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Hard care · 20–24 °C (68–75 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Neon Dwarf Rainbowfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Neon Dwarf Rainbowfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Odessa Barb✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Odessa Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Peaceful Betta✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Pearl Danio✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–25 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Pearl Danio in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Platy✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 21–28 °C (70–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Samurai Gourami✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Slate Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Slate Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Smaragd Betta✅ CompatibleAggressive · 6 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Peaceful + Aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Three-striped Dwarf Cichlid✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Medium care · 23–29 °C (73–84 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- African Butterfly Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 8 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Amazon Puffer⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 8 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~120 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Amazon Puffer in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Ash Lipped Apisto⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Hard care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Black Ruby Barb⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~100 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Black Ruby Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Bleeding Heart Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Bleeding Heart Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Bright Diamond Tetra⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 7 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Bright Diamond Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Buenos Aires Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Buenos Aires Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Chocolate Gourami⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 5 cm · Hard care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
- pH preferences only just meet (Blood Red Tiger Pleco 6.5–7.5 vs Chocolate Gourami 4–6) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Keep Chocolate Gourami in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Colombian Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6.5 cm · Easy care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~114 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Colombian Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Congo Tetra⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 8 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~120 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Congo Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Dwarf Chain Loach⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 6 cm · Medium care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Dwarf Chain Loach in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Humpbacked Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 5 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Humpbacked Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Melon Barb⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Melon Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Morse Code Corydoras⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 5 cm · Medium care · 23–26 °C (73–79 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Morse Code Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Rounded Filament Barb⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 7 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Rounded Filament Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Tiger Barb⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~95 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Tiger Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Goldfish⛔ Not recommendedPeaceful · 30 cm · Medium care · 18–22 °C (64–72 °F)
- Temperature needs don't overlap (Blood Red Tiger Pleco 24–29 °C vs Goldfish 18–22 °C).
- Goldfish may bully the smaller Blood Red Tiger Pleco, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~150 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Imperial Flower Loach⛔ Not recommendedSemi-aggressive · 50 cm · Hard care · 15–22 °C (59–72 °F)
- Temperature needs don't overlap (Blood Red Tiger Pleco 24–29 °C vs Imperial Flower Loach 15–22 °C).
- Imperial Flower Loach may bully the smaller Blood Red Tiger Pleco, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Panda Loach⛔ Not recommendedPeaceful · 6 cm · Hard care · 18–23 °C (64–73 °F)
- Temperature needs don't overlap (Blood Red Tiger Pleco 24–29 °C vs Panda Loach 18–23 °C).
Compatibility is computed from each species' care data — a strong starting point, not a guarantee. Individual temperament varies, so always introduce new fish slowly and watch them.
Blood Red Tiger Pleco care specs
- Care level
- Medium
- Breeding
- Hard
- Max size
- 6 cm (2.4 in)
- Min tank size
- 75 L (19.8 gal)
- Temperature
- 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- pH
- 6.5–7.5
- Hardness
- 2–12 dGH
- Lifespan
- 8–12 years
- Diet
- Herbivore
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Group size
- Best alone or in a pair
- Family
- Loricariidae
- Origin
- South America — Takutu and Branco River drainages (Brazil and Guyana)
What is a Blood Red Tiger Pleco?
The Blood Red Tiger Pleco (Panaqolus claustellifer), catalogued in the trade as L306 and LDA064, is a compact armoured catfish in the family Loricariidae. Formal science caught up with it only in 2016, yet collectors had been keeping and trading it for years before — a reliable sign of genuine appeal. At a maximum size of around 6 cm (2.4 in), it is one of the smaller members of the Tiger Pleco group, which makes it practical even for modestly sized aquariums. The colouration more than compensates for its understated dimensions: a dark brown body is crossed by bold transverse bands overlaid with vivid blood-red to orange-red stripes that run across both the body and the fins. Few plecos of this size offer anything close to that visual impact. It remains a sought-after species that appears mainly through specialist importers and dedicated private breeders rather than the mainstream trade.
Where does the Blood Red Tiger Pleco come from?
Wild Panaqolus claustellifer inhabits the Takutu and Branco River drainages straddling the border of northern Brazil and Guyana. These rivers flow through lowland tropical forest, and the habitat relevant to this species is the woody debris zones — submerged root tangles, drifted logs and piles of leaf litter that accumulate along the banks and in slack-water channels. Water in these drainages tends to be warm, on the softer and more acidic side, and tinted amber by tannins leaching from decaying organic material. Current varies but is rarely torrential in the microhabitats this species favours. Understanding the origin is directly useful: driftwood is not aquarium decoration for this fish — it mirrors the structural environment the species evolved in.
What tank setup and size does the Blood Red Tiger Pleco need?
A minimum of 75 litres (20 gallons) is the practical floor for a single specimen, and more space is always preferable if you intend to keep a pair or attempt breeding. The footprint of the tank matters more than its height because this is strictly a bottom-dweller; a longer, shallower tank gives more usable territory than a tall, narrow column.
Driftwood is the single most important furnishing — at least one substantial piece of bogwood, spider wood or similar is non-negotiable both as shelter and as a dietary substrate (see Diet section). Supplement with flat slate, terracotta caves or purpose-built pleco hides; the fish is secretive and settles in far more readily when it has enclosed spaces to retreat to. A sandy or fine-gravel substrate keeps the belly and ventral fins undamaged. Moderate, diffuse filtration that turns the water over without creating blast-current patches in the caves suits the species well. The tank does not need to be densely planted, though plants are compatible and contribute to water quality.
What water parameters does the Blood Red Tiger Pleco need?
- Temperature: 24–29 °C (75–84 °F). The upper end reflects Guyana lowland conditions; aim for a stable mid-range of around 26–27 °C (79–81 °F) for everyday keeping.
- pH: 6.5–7.5. Slightly acidic to neutral; soft, tannin-stained water on the acidic end is particularly well received after acclimatisation.
- Hardness: 2–12 dGH. The species tolerates moderate hardness but thrives at the softer end of this range, consistent with its blackwater-adjacent origin.
Stability is more important than hitting an exact number. Cycle the tank fully before introducing the fish, perform weekly partial water changes of 25–30 percent, and avoid sharp swings in temperature or pH. Good oxygenation is important — Loricariids in stagnant or low-oxygen water are at heightened risk of stress and disease.
What does the Blood Red Tiger Pleco eat?
The Blood Red Tiger Pleco is a herbivore with one distinctive dietary requirement: it rasps and partially digests wood. This is not incidental grazing — it is a core digestive strategy shared across the Panaqolus genus. Without access to driftwood, even a fish that appears to be eating well can develop slow nutritional decline.
Beyond wood, offer algae wafers and sinking veggie-based pellets as the staple. Blanched vegetables — courgette (zucchini), cucumber, sweet potato, and spinach — are readily accepted and add variety. A small protein supplement (frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp, or a carnivore wafer once or twice a week) supports condition without pushing the diet off its herbivorous base. Feed after lights-out; this is a nocturnal feeder and competition from more assertive tankmates during the day will leave it underfed. Remove uneaten soft vegetables after 24 hours to prevent fouling.
What is the behaviour of the Blood Red Tiger Pleco and what are compatible tank mates?
The Blood Red Tiger Pleco has a peaceful temperament and generally ignores fish that are not other plecos. It spends the majority of its time on and around the bottom, rasping wood or sheltering in a hide, and shows most activity after the tank lights dim. A newly introduced specimen may be invisible for the first week or two; resist the temptation to disturb its territory.
Male-to-male conflict is the main management consideration. Two males housed together will dispute cave ownership, which can escalate to fin damage and persistent stress. Either keep a single specimen, or provide considerably more space and hides than you think you need if keeping multiple individuals. Females coexist more readily.
Compatible community fish are those that occupy the mid-water or upper levels and are not large enough to bother a 6 cm pleco: tetras, rasboras, peaceful barbs, small cichlids, corydoras and similar. Avoid large, aggressive cichlids or fish that actively harass bottom-dwellers.
For a full filterable compatibility list, see Blood Red Tiger Pleco tank mates.
How do you tell male and female Blood Red Tiger Plecos apart?
Sexing is possible but requires a close look at mature specimens. Males develop odontodes — stiff, bristle-like outgrowths — along the leading edge of the pectoral fin spines and across the cheeks. These are most visible when the fish extends its pectoral fins or is viewed from directly above. The odontodes are used in male-to-male pushing contests over caves and are a reliable indicator of sex in adults.
Females lack prominent odontode development on the pectorals and cheeks. When gravid (carrying eggs), females become noticeably broader-bodied when viewed from above — this is usually the clearest practical sex indicator outside of breeding season. Juvenile fish are very difficult to sex reliably; wait until the fish are 4–5 cm (about 1.5–2 in) before attempting a definitive assessment.
How do you breed the Blood Red Tiger Pleco?
Breeding is rated hard, and captive spawnings are relatively uncommon outside of dedicated pleco breeders. Success depends on conditioning, appropriate cave dimensions and a patient approach.
The species is a cave spawner. The male claims a tight-fitting cave — one where he can barely turn around — and entices or drives a ripe female inside to deposit eggs. He then guards the clutch alone, fanning the eggs with his fins and removing unfertilised ones, until the fry emerge and are free-swimming. Clutch sizes tend to be modest relative to other plecos.
To attempt breeding: condition a pair separately or in a sufficiently large tank on a varied diet, with a slight temperature rise (toward the 28–29 °C end of the range) and regular water changes to simulate seasonal cues. Provide caves sized to fit the male snugly — purpose-made pleco breeding tubes or sections of bamboo work well. Fry can be raised on the same diet as adults (algae wafers, blanched vegetables, fine-grained sinking food) from the outset, but they are sensitive to water quality and require stable, clean water throughout the early weeks.
What are common diseases of the Blood Red Tiger Pleco?
This species is not particularly disease-prone when water quality is maintained, but the following are worth knowing:
- Ich (white spot): Classic stress-triggered parasite, appearing as white pinprick spots across the body and fins. The most common trigger is a sudden temperature drop or introducing infected fish without quarantine. Raising temperature gradually and maintaining stable conditions is the best prevention.
- Bacterial fin rot and body ulcers: Almost always a secondary consequence of physical injury (from male fighting or rough décor edges) or chronically poor water quality. Smooth-edged hides and consistent water changes are the primary preventive measures.
- Internal parasites: Wild-caught or recently imported specimens sometimes carry intestinal worms. A quarantine period of 4–6 weeks before adding any new pleco to an established tank is the standard safeguard.
- Digestive issues from wood deprivation: Not a pathogen, but worth listing — a pleco kept without driftwood access can show slow wasting, reduced activity and dulled colour even when all other parameters look correct. Always verify driftwood is present and being rasped.
Health note: disease identification and medication dosing are beyond the scope of a care profile. If symptoms appear, isolate the affected fish, correct water parameters first, and consult a reputable aquatic veterinary or fish-health resource before treating.
How long does the Blood Red Tiger Pleco live?
With good care, a Blood Red Tiger Pleco can live 8–12 years — a substantial commitment and a reward for getting the fundamentals right from the start. The keys are consistent water quality, driftwood access throughout its life, an appropriate diet, and adequate territory to reduce chronic stress. Specimens kept in cramped, wood-free, or poorly oxygenated tanks rarely approach the upper end of that range. Given that this species is rarely cheap to acquire and appears infrequently in the trade, the long lifespan is reason enough to invest in a well-designed setup before the fish arrives.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Blood Red Tiger Pleco need driftwood in its tank?
Yes — wood is both shelter and a dietary essential. Panaqolus plecos rasp wood as part of their digestive process, so a piece of bogwood or spider wood is not optional decor. Without it the fish can develop nutritional deficiencies even when algae wafers are offered.
How is the Blood Red Tiger Pleco different from the Clown Pleco (L104)?
Both are small Panaqolus species, but the Blood Red Tiger Pleco (L306) has distinctly blood-red stripes rather than the beige-to-orange stripes of the Clown Pleco (Panaqolus maccus). L306 also originates from Guyana and northern Brazil rather than Venezuela, and was only formally described in 2016.
What you need to keep a blood red tiger pleco
The baseline is a heated, filtered 75 L+ tank: a reliable heater to hold 24–29 °C (75–84 °F), a gentle filter that won't batter a blood red tiger pleco in the current, and a tight-fitting lid. Cycle the tank fully before adding any fish.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases — buying through these links costs you nothing extra.
