All fish / Loricariidae

Clown Pleco

Panaqolus maccus

Also known as clown plec, clown plecostomus, l104, l162, ringlet pleco, panaque maccus, clown panaque, パナクエ・マクス, sapu sapu clown, 小丑异型, 小丑皇冠异型

A small, dark suckermouth catfish banded with orange or gold rings that vary greatly between individuals. It stays compact, rasps on driftwood rather than pestering plants, and suits community tanks better than larger plecos.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

9 cm

Temperature

24 to 30 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

60 litres

Keep as

Singly or in a small group with plenty of caves

Diet

Herbivore: driftwood (essential), blanched vegetables such as courgette, algae wafers, occasional meaty foods

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 12 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Venezuela and Colombia (Orinoco and Apure basins)

Breeding

A cave spawner in which the male guards the eggs and young inside a narrow cave. It has been bred in aquariums but not often, and success usually needs soft, warm, well-oxygenated water.

Good to know

Must have bogwood to graze, as wood forms a large part of its diet and produces lots of waste, so good filtration is needed. Males can squabble over caves in small tanks.