Clown pleco
Panaqolus maccus
FishFreshwater
- Care level
- Easy
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Recommended tank
- 80 L
- Maximum size
- 9 cm
- Temperature
- 23–28 °C
- pH
- 6.5–7.5
- Diet
- Herbivore
Care at a glance
The clown pleco from Venezuela's Orinoco stays small for an armoured catfish and is banded in yellow and black. By day it sits hidden under wood or in a crevice; only when the lights go out does it come out.
Wood is not decoration for it but food: it rasps at it daily and needs it for digestion, so always provide a decent piece. Supplement with vegetable food and keep the bottom clean, because it produces a striking amount of waste for such a small fish.
Good to know
Related species
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Values are mainstream hobbyist guidance, not gospel — always watch what your own animals need.