Do Clown Plecos clean algae off the glass?

Not really. They are primarily wood-eaters and will spend most of their time rasping on driftwood. While they may occasionally graze on biofilm, they should never be purchased solely as an 'algae cleanup crew'.

Why is my Clown Pleco always hiding?

They are naturally nocturnal and prefer the safety of dark caves or tangled roots during the day. Once the tank lights dim or are turned off, they become much more active and bold.

Do I absolutely need driftwood in my tank for them?

Yes, driftwood is mandatory. Clown Plecos are xylivorous, meaning they need to ingest wood fibres to aid their digestion. Without it, they will suffer from malnutrition and digestive issues.

Can I keep multiple Clown Plecos together?

Yes, provided the aquarium is large enough. Males can be territorial over caves, so ensure you have at least one cave per pleco and plenty of broken lines of sight to prevent fighting.

How big do Clown Plecos actually get?

They are considered a dwarf species and typically max out around 7 to 9 cm in length, making them perfectly suitable for aquariums as small as 75 litres.

FreshwaterTropicalBeginner

Clown Pleco

Panaqolus maccus

A small, highly patterned wood-eating catfish that is ideal for planted and community aquaria.

List this species for sale Find Clown Pleco near me

Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 23 – 28 °C
pH range: 6.5 – 7.5
Hardness: 4 – 15 dGH
Adult size: 7 – 9 cm
Standard 75L or larger: 75 litres+
Lifespan: 10 – 12 years
Diet: Herbivore/Xylivore (wood-eating)
Water flow: moderate
Preferred setup: Requires submerged driftwood (bogwood/mopani) for grazing, alongside rocky caves or ceramic pipes for hiding.

About the Clown Pleco

The Clown Pleco (Panaqolus maccus), also widely known by its L-numbers L104, L162, or LDA022, is a popular dwarf loricariid prized for its striking wavy stripes and modest adult size. Originating from the Orinoco River basin, this nocturnal catfish spends its time navigating driftwood and roots. Unlike common plecos that can quickly outgrow a standard setup, it comfortably remains under 9 cm, making it a fantastic and manageable addition to moderately sized aquariums.

Find Clown Pleco

Search current listings in your chosen area. If none are available, save an alert and we’ll let you know when a match is listed.

Find locally Check compatibility Add to a Setup

Availability alerts only use public sale listings. Adding this species to a Setup updates your private records.

Is it right for your tank?

Check Clown Pleco against a habitat you already keep. We compare water type, temperature, pH, adult size, group needs and everything living there.

Where Clown Pleco comes from

Native range

South America, Orinoco River basin

Countries / regions

Venezuela, Colombia

Habitat

Flowing river systems littered with submerged trees, tangled root systems, and decaying wood.

Widespread across the Apure and Caroni river drainages within the Orinoco basin.

Similar species

Bristlenose Pleco
Ancistrus sp.
Zebra Pleco
Hypancistrus zebra
Rubber Lip Pleco
Chaetostoma milesi

We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

View all compatibility

Neon Tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Peaceful mid-to-top dwelling dither fish that will completely ignore the bottom-dwelling pleco.
Great
Bronze Corydoras
Corydoras aeneus
Placid bottom dwellers that share similar parameters; just ensure enough floor space so they do not crowd the pleco's chosen caves.
Great
Ram Cichlid
Mikrogeophagus ramirezi
Dwarf cichlids thrive in the same warm, soft water and generally coexist peacefully with small, armoured catfish.
Great
Bristlenose Pleco
Ancistrus sp.
May compete directly for caves and driftwood; only keep together in larger aquariums with abundant hiding spots.
Compatible with caution
Oscar
Astronotus ocellatus
Large, predatory cichlids may attempt to swallow the small pleco, which can result in the pleco's spines getting fatally lodged in the predator's throat.
Not recommended

Current marketplace listings

Checking the marketplace…

See all Clown Pleco listings

Public Wanted requests

No open requests for Clown Pleco in this market yet.

Looking for Clown Pleco?

Search current listings near you, or post a wanted request so local sellers know what you’re looking for.

Search Clown Pleco listings Post a wanted request