TankBud

Mega clown pleco (L340)

Hypancistrus sp. L340

Also known as L340, Imperial Tiger Pleco, LDA19

FreshwaterFish

Mega clown pleco (L340) (Hypancistrus sp. L340)

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
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Loricariidae
Origin
Rio Tomo and nearby Orinoco basin tributaries of Colombia.

Overview

The mega clown pleco (L340) is a dwarf pleco for a small community tank. It is a good pick for a keeper past the beginner stage.

Did you know

The mega clown pleco is willing to come out in daylight, which is unusual for a Hypancistrus. That habit is a big part of why it stays popular despite its confusing pile of trade names.

Caring for the mega clown pleco (L340)

A mega clown pleco (L340) suits a tank as small as 20 gal (75 L). Give it caves and hiding spots. Keep the water warm, flowing and well oxygenated, at 79 to 86°F (26 to 30°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5.

It is a carnivore, like other Hypancistrus, and does not graze algae. Feed protein-rich foods such as sinking carnivore pellets, frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp and gel diets. Do not rely on algae wafers as a mainstay.

The mega clown pleco is mostly peaceful in a community. It is fine alone but often does well in a small group. It has a comparatively bold, outgoing personality for a pleco. Breeding it is of moderate difficulty.

Good to know

The mega clown pleco (L340) is an undescribed Hypancistrus in the family Loricariidae, also coded LDA19. It wears a dense maze of fine yellow and black lines. The pattern varies between fish, from tight vermiculation to broader clown-like swirls.

In the wild

The mega clown pleco comes from warm, rocky, fast-moving tributaries of the Orinoco basin in Colombia, including the Rio Tomo. It shelters in crevices and hunts through the substrate for insect larvae and small invertebrates.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The 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.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

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.

What does a mega clown pleco (L340) eat?

A mega clown pleco (L340) is a carnivore. Feed it protein-rich foods such as sinking carnivore pellets, frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp and gel diets, not algae wafers as a mainstay.

How big does a mega clown pleco (L340) get?

An adult mega clown pleco (L340) reaches about 3.5 in (9 cm).

Related species