| [[File:|250px|alt=Clown pleco|Clown pleco]] | |
|---|---|
| Clown pleco | |
| Basic Information | |
| Lifespan: | |
| Size: | 4 in (10cm) |
| Diet: | omnivorous |
| Tank Size: | |
| Shoaling/Schooling: | |
| Minimum Group Size: | |
| Water Parameters | |
| Temperature: | 72-86°F (22-30°C) |
| pH: | 5.5-7.5 |
| Hardness: | |
| Behavior | |
| Compatibility: | |
| Temperament: | |
| Swimming Level: | bottom |
Clown Pleco (Panaqolus maccus)
This small Loricarid prefers a dimly lit tank with a good number of hiding places, either created with plants, drift wood, rocks or artificial (pleco spawning) caves. To keep more than one specimen in the same tank, or together with other bottom dwelling fish, you need at least a 32x16" (80x40cm.) tank: this fish can be quite territorial, and when suitable hiding places are lacking, it can be aggressive towards other bottom dwellers. When kept as only catfish in an aquarium, a tank size of 60x12" (60x30cm.) is sufficient.
Behaviour
(info)
Diet
This is a wood-eating catfish, like all species from the genus Panaque (including those known to some as Panaqolus). Therefore, a good supply of bog wood is necessary in the tank: not only does this fish extract certain elements and nutrients from the organic layer that forms on the wood over time (also known as "Aufwuchs"), it actually eats the wood itself, possibly for digestive reasons. As wood is not very rich in nutrients, it means the Clown Pleco consumes vast amounts of it, producing an almost equal amount of waste (because of which a powerful filtration system is an absolute necessity). Besides wood, the diet can be supplemented with vegetable matter (cucumber, salad, aubergine, etc. as well as algae and catfish pellets) and meaty foods like shrimp and pieces of fish fillet.
Natural Habitat
(info here)
Breeding
(info here)
Aquarium Setup
For an ideal clown pleco aquarium setup, consider the following:
Tank Size
(info here)
Substrate
(info here)
Lighting
(info here)
Filtration
(info here)
Water Parameters
- Temperature: 72-86°F (22-30°C)
- pH: 5.5-7.5
- General hardness
- Alkalinity (KH):
- TDS:
Conservation Status
The clown pleco has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2020. Panaqolus maccus is listed as Least Concern.
Notable Facts
(info here)