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Does the type of wood matter for panaque L190? If so which is the best type? Thank you in advance!

I don't think the exact type matters too much, but generally the softer the better.

Hardwood's such as the common Malaysian and African driftwoods found in the Aquarium trade are extremely difficult for Panaque's to digest and can cause serious gut problems leading in most cases to death. Softwoods such as Palm and Willow as long as they are correctly soaked and completely chemical free are the woods of choice for Panaque's. In the wild 90% of a Panaque's wood intake is Palm wood which should tell you what you should be feeding your Panaque's.

In terms of aquarium woods, mopani wood is initially far too hard but standard bogwood (the big chunkier stuff is far better)particularly if it is aged & has been in the tank for long periods. Redmoor wood seems fine.

If you are gathering wood yourself, aged beech seems to work fine although it is bouyant & needs weighting down - it depends on where you live as beech in the UK might not be the same as beech in the USA & different again to beech in say Australia.

If you want to replicate a more natural diet then the post above about what they eat in the wild is of great use

My Panaque tank has apple, willow and mopani (and possibly some others, can't say for sure). My L204 tank has Malaysian bogwood and a random piece of wood from the park.

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Mats

I have used dead, dry silver birch (Betula pendula) to good effect.

racoll, I use Betula pendula too:) Also I use Salix (willow), Quercus (oak), Prúnus (plum tree) and some unknown driftwood.

all i got is malasian driftwood. i guess i should try to find softer stuff...

Good question! I also find that bark is relished and that pretty much any deciduous wood is OK. I use beech, hawthorn (submersed outside for 6-12 months) and actually fresh privet hedge which also sinks straight from the bush. Next year I am going to try chestnut and copper beech as well as some lichen infested cooking apple.

Jools

Assuming you don't live right next to a big road, you can use cuttings of most garden trees - fruit trees are excellent: Cherry, Plum, Apple, Pear, etc. Maple, oak and birch for example of the non-fruit trees. Avoid conifers such as pine and spruce. Cedar and such is also not suitable.

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Mats

I am really enjoying this site for the info on the panaque. Everyone seems to know their stuff and are talking from experience. My royal is eating the malasian wood and is crapping alot but i think i gonna try a different wood also. I figured the mopani was too dense but the malasian wood felt a little lighter. Never thought of the bark as being good for them. I think i gonna try apple from a tree upstate that i have. Does the wood have to be prepped a certain way (boiled?) or can i just cut a hunk off the tree and put it in the tank? Tankmates are 2 oscars about 9 inches each.

Capt Dave wrote:I am really enjoying this site for the info on the panaque. Everyone seems to know their stuff and are talking from experience. My royal is eating the malasian wood and is crapping alot but i think i gonna try a different wood also. I figured the mopani was too dense but the malasian wood felt a little lighter. Never thought of the bark as being good for them. I think i gonna try apple from a tree upstate that i have. Does the wood have to be prepped a certain way (boiled?) or can i just cut a hunk off the tree and put it in the tank? Tankmates are 2 oscars about 9 inches each.

They eat the bark as well .... simply boil the wood first then leave to sit in water for 2 weeks changing the water every 3rd day. Malaysian wood isn't good for Panaques long term it causes digestive issues. I'd be getting them onto softer woods as soon as practical.

I remember I also use Acacia tree.

As I heard It is undesirable to use coniferous trees. It is due to resin(pitch (I don't how to say better in English)) they produce. May be It is just a rumors, but I don't use coniferous trees.

I don't prep the wood at all. Just put it in the tank. If you have small, vegetarian Loricariidae in the tank, they will keep the wood "clean", and assuming the wood didn't come from a stream of water, it is very unlikely it contains anything that is bad for the fish.

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Mats

I use fresh prunings from the apple tree. It sinks straightaway and the fish love the fungus that grows on the fresh wood.

panaque wrote:I use fresh prunings from the apple tree. It sinks straightaway and the fish love the fungus that grows on the fresh wood.

Agreed, although it doesn't half smell bad!

Jools