Clown pleco
Panaqolus maccus
Also known as L104
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–82°F (23–28°C)
- pH
- 6.6–7.6
- Adult size
- 3.5 in (9 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 20 gal (75 L)
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Very common
- Origin
- Apure and Caroni river basins, Venezuela and Colombia
- Family
- Loricariidae
Overview
Keep one per tank, since they are solitary and turn territorial toward their own kind over caves and wood. They are mostly peaceful toward other species and stay along the bottom, hiding by day and coming out at night. Water should sit between 23 and 28 C with a pH from 6.6 to 7.6 in a tank of 75 liters or more. They are obligate wood-eaters, so driftwood has to be present at all times as food, not just decor, and you supplement with algae wafers and fresh veg like zucchini or cucumber. Pair them with calm midwater and surface fish that will not compete for the floor.
In the wild
Clown plecos come from the Apure and Caroni river basins in Venezuela and Colombia, where they live among submerged branches and fallen wood along the riverbed. To match that, build the tank around real driftwood and use a sand or smooth substrate so they do not scrape their belly. Give them at least 75 liters with plenty of caves and shaded spots to retreat into. Keep the water warm, from 23 to 28 C, with a pH from 6.6 to 7.6.
Good to know
This is a small suckermouth catfish in the family Loricariidae, reaching about 9 cm as an adult. It is a cave spawner, with the male guarding eggs laid inside a narrow tube, and breeding is doable but takes some setup. Most clown plecos in the trade are wild caught, though tank-bred fish show up. A healthy adult can live ten years or more.
Did you know
The driftwood in the tank is not just something to gnaw on, it is a real part of their diet. Clown plecos rasp at wood and digest the matter inside it, so a tank without driftwood leaves them slowly starving no matter how much else you feed. Watch for fine sawdust-like waste, which is a sign they are working the wood as they should.
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
- Flip Aquatics Quarantined shrimp, snails and nano fish
- Imperial Tropicals Freshwater fish and inverts bred at a Florida hatchery
- Dan's Fish Freshwater fish, shrimp and snails with a live arrival guarantee
- The Wet Spot Tropical Fish Large freshwater selection from a longtime Portland fish store
- Aqua Huna Freshwater fish, shrimp and plants with a three day live arrival guarantee
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Keeping Clown pleco?
Track water tests, reminders and stocking fit.
Related species
Flash Pleco (L204)
Panaqolus albivermis5.1 in (13 cm)40 gal (150 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)Tiger Pleco (L002)
Panaqolus sp. L0025.1 in (13 cm)40 gal (150 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)Colombian Zebra Pleco (L129)
Hypancistrus debilittera3.5 in (9 cm)20 gal (75 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)Mega Clown Pleco (L340)
Hypancistrus sp. L3403.5 in (9 cm)20 gal (75 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)
Bulldog pleco
Chaetostoma formosae4.3 in (11 cm)40 gal (150 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)
Clown peckoltia (L134)
Peckoltia compta4.7 in (12 cm)29 gal (110 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)