Clown Pleco
Panaqolus maccus
Also known as L104, Ringlet Pleco
Edited by Ivan F. · Reviewed
Beginner verdict
A small, wood-eating pleco with bold stripes that stays far smaller than the common pleco. It spends its days tucked into driftwood and comes out at dusk. Without real wood in the tank it cannot thrive, so treat driftwood as part of its diet, not decoration.
Care at a glance
- Min tank size
- 20 US gal
- Footprint
- Not specified
- Temperature
- 73–82 °F
- pH
- 6.8–7.6
- Hardness
- 8–10 dGH
- Swim zone
- Bottom
- Min group
- Single fish
- Lifespan
- 10–12 years
Clown Pleco tank mates and swim zone
Bottom
Spends most of its time in this part of the tank.
Paracheirodon innesi
Paracheirodon axelrodi
Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
Hemigrammus erythrozonus
Trigonostigma heteromorpha
Trigonostigma espei
Hyphessobrycon amandae
Clown Pleco is much larger than Ember Tetra and may frighten or even eat it.
Boraras brigittae
Clown Pleco is much larger than Chili Rasbora and may frighten or even eat it.
Danio margaritatus
Clown Pleco is much larger than Celestial Pearl Danio and may frighten or even eat it.
Barbodes semifasciolatus
Their temperature ranges barely overlap, so you will have little room for error.
Tanichthys albonubes
Their temperature ranges do not overlap, so one of them would always be stressed.
Pseudomugil furcatus
One needs much harder water than the other can tolerate.
Carassius auratus
Goldfish suit cooler water and are not suited to tropical tanks, so Clown Pleco is a poor match.
Common tank-mate questions
Clown Pleco feeding and care
How to feed
- Keep several pieces of driftwood in the tank at all times.
- Add blanched zucchini or squash, and sinking wafers after dark.
- Feed small portions you can see finished within a couple of minutes, because overfeeding fouls the water fast.
Telling males from females
Males often have bristly odontodes along the rear body and fins. Females are smoother and rounder when viewed from above.
Clown Pleco care mistakes to avoid
- Plan on one as the centerpiece of the tank, and read the tank-mate lists before adding others.
- Add real driftwood. It rasps wood as part of its diet and will decline without it.
- Expect lots of fine waste, because wood-eating fish produce plenty of it.
- Give multiple fish their own caves, since they may guard territories.
- Check your tank before you buy. Our sourced minimum is 20 US gallons.
Clown Pleco tank setup
A forgiving setup with room for a small community.
TankAt least 20 US gal (76 L)
The smallest tank our sources give for Clown Pleco. We list only tanks that hold this volume (allowing 10%, so a standard size counts).
Aqueon Standard Glass Aquarium 20 Long US
Aqueon Standard Glass Aquarium 29 Gallon US
Aqueon Standard Glass Aquarium 40 Breeder US
Eheim clearTank 73 Spain
Why we chose these (Best 20-Gallon Fish Tank: 20 Long or 29?). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Starter kitA kit with the tank, filter and light in one box
We list only kits whose tank fits Clown Pleco, up to twice its minimum volume. A kit whose heater has a fixed setting shows only when that setting is inside Clown Pleco's temperature range.
Tetra Complete LED Aquarium Kit 20 Gallon US
Check the heater's setting
Tetra Complete LED Aquarium Kit 29 Gallon US
Check the heater's setting
Tetra Starter Line LED Aquarium 80 L Spain
Heater preset to 25 °C
Why we chose these (Best Aquarium Starter Kit: What to Look For). Nobody here has used or tested them.
FilterHang-on-back or large sponge filter
Easy to maintain and strong enough for a community without blasting the fish.
Seachem Tidal 55 Power Filter US
Marineland Penguin PRO 175 Power Filter US
Eheim LiBERTY 130 Hang-on Filter Spain
Seachem Tidal 35 Power Filter Spain
Why we chose these (Best Filter for a 20 to 29-Gallon Tank). Nobody here has used or tested them.
HeaterKeep it at 73–82 °F (23–28 °C)
Adjustable heater, about 5 W per gallon: 100 W at 20 gallons, about 150 W at 29. Enough power to hold a stable temperature in most homes. Size up for a cold room.
Aqueon Pro Adjustable Heater 100 W US
Aqueon Submersible Glass Heater 100 W US
Eheim Thermocontrol e 100 Heater Spain
Tetra HT 100 Electronic Heater Spain
Why we chose these (Best Heater for a 20 to 29-Gallon Tank). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Water conditionerDechlorinator such as Seachem Prime
Tap water contains chlorine or chloramine that harms fish.
Seachem Prime US
Fritz Complete Water Conditioner US
API Betta Water Conditioner US
sera aquatan Spain
Tetra AquaSafe Spain
Sold at Kiwoko · Sold at Tiendanimal · Sold at zooplus.es · Maker's details
Why we chose these (Best Water Conditioner for Betta Fish). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Test kitLiquid kit such as API Freshwater Master
Tracks ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH while the tank cycles.
API Freshwater Master Test Kit US
API General & Carbonate Hardness Test Kit US
See it at The Shrimp Farm (a retailer; affiliate link) · Sold at Bulk Reef Supply · Maker's details
sera aqua-test box (Cl) Spain
JBL PROAQUATEST COMBISET Plus NH4 Spain
Why we chose these (Best Test Kit for a Freshwater Aquarium). Nobody here has used or tested them.
SubstrateA smooth substrate such as sand is important because its soft belly is easily damaged by sharp rocks.
We are still choosing products for this.
Hiding places and decorNeeds wood to rasp on and eat, plus caves, plants and smooth rocks to hide in.
We are still choosing products for this.
PlantsMostly safe with live plants
Cycle the tank before adding animals. See our guide on how to cycle a fish tank.
Where to buy Clown Pleco
We have not found a store that sells Clown Pleco under its scientific name yet. We add stores as we confirm them.
Live animals and plants travel by courier. Check the store's live-arrival guarantee, and only buy once your tank has cycled (see how to cycle a fish tank).
Some US states restrict certain species. Check our US state aquarium rules table and your state's own rules before you buy.
Clown Pleco FAQ
What size tank do Clown Plecos need?
Our sourced minimum is 20 US gallons (76 liters). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable.
How many Clown Plecos should I keep?
One is fine in a tank this size. Add more only with plenty of extra room and cover.
What can live with Clown Plecos?
Good matches on our list include Neon Tetra, Cardinal Tetra and Black Neon Tetra. Avoid White Cloud Mountain Minnow and Endler's Livebearer.
How long do Clown Plecos live?
Care guides report about 10–12 years. Stable water and a good diet make the biggest difference.
Does a clown pleco eat algae?
Only a little. It mostly eats wood and the biofilm on it, so it should not be bought as an algae cleaner.
Clown Pleco facts and sources
- Family
- Loricariidae
- Native to
- Caura River, Venezuela
- Adult size
- 3.5 in (9 cm)
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social needs
- Solitary/Centerpiece
- Diet
- Herbivore
- Water flow
- Moderate
- Substrate
- Any
- Live plants
- Mostly Safe
- Shrimp
- Adult Shrimp Only
- Fin nipping
- None
- Vulnerable to nippers
- No
- Breeding
- Difficult in Home Tanks
Sources
- Fishkeeping World: Size, tank and hardness
- PlanetCatfish: Temperature and pH
Lifespans are approximate and come from aquarium care guides, because these databases rarely publish them.
Spotted something wrong? Report a parameter correction. For a sick fish, see our veterinary disclaimer.