Mega clown pleco (L340)
Hypancistrus sp. L340
Also known as L340, Imperial Tiger Pleco, LDA19
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 79–86°F
- 26–30°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 3.5 in
- 9 cm
- Minimum tank
- 20 gal
- 75 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Loricariidae
- Origin
- Rio Tomo and nearby Orinoco basin tributaries of Colombia.
Overview
A dwarf pleco that suits a tank as small as 75 liters and often does well in small groups. Feed protein-rich foods such as sinking carnivore pellets, frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, and gel diets, not algae wafers as a mainstay. Peaceful in a community and one of the more visible plecos, since it spends less time hiding than most.
In the wild
Comes from warm, rocky, fast-moving Orinoco tributaries where it shelters in crevices and hunts through the substrate. It is a carnivore like other Hypancistrus, taking insect larvae and small invertebrates rather than grazing algae. Wants caves, oxygenated flowing water, and fine hiding spots.
Good to know
An undescribed Hypancistrus traded as L340 and also coded LDA19, wearing a dense maze of fine yellow and black lines. It stays small at around 8 to 9 cm and has a comparatively bold, outgoing personality for a pleco. Pattern varies between fish, from tight vermiculation to broader clown-like swirls.
Did you know
Its willingness to come out in daylight, unusual for a Hypancistrus, is a big part of why the mega clown stays popular despite the confusing pile of trade names.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
Mega clown pleco (L340) is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Aurora tetra
Moenkhausia aurora
Freshwater2 in (5.2 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Blue panchax
Aplocheilus panchax
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Marble wood shrimp
Atya scabra
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Gold marble bristlenose pleco
Ancistrus claro
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
Pygmy rainbowfish
Melanotaenia pygmaea
Freshwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–84°F (23–29°C)
Kuekenthal's halfbeak
Hemirhamphodon kuekenthali
Freshwater3.3 in (8.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Mega clown pleco (L340) need?
A Mega clown pleco (L340) needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Mega clown pleco (L340) need?
A Mega clown pleco (L340) is comfortable at 79–86°F (26–30°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
How big does a Mega clown pleco (L340) get?
An adult Mega clown pleco (L340) reaches about 3.5 in (9 cm).
Related species
3.5 in (9 cm)20 gal (75 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)Colombian zebra pleco (L129)
Hypancistrus debilittera
3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
5.1 in (13 cm)40 gal (150 L)79–84°F (26–29°C)King tiger pleco (L066)
Hypancistrus seideli
5.1 in (13 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)
5.9 in (15 cm)30 gal (115 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)Orinoco angel pleco (L201)
Hypancistrus sp. L201
5.9 in (15 cm) · 30 gal (115 L)
5.9 in (15 cm)30 gal (113 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Snowball pleco (L102)
Hypancistrus inspector
5.9 in (15 cm) · 30 gal (113 L)
3.9 in (10 cm)42 gal (160 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)Bandit pleco
Hypancistrus furunculus
3.9 in (10 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)
3.9 in (10 cm)20 gal (75 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)Queen arabesque pleco (L260)
Hypancistrus sp. L260
3.9 in (10 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)