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The clown pleco has become popular with hobbyists that cannot provide appropriate accommodations for its larger cousin, the common pleco. Unfortunately many people confuse the needs and behavior of this fish with that of many other members of the pleco family. It is a hardy, easy to care for fish. Hobbyist should be sensitive to nitrate readings in tank. This fish is peaceful. Multiple specimens can be kept given sufficient space and proper décor.

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Listed tank sizes are the minimum Size: 5” SL " (8cm) Tank: 36 inches 29 US Gallon Strata: Bottom PH: 6.6 to 7.8 Hardness: Soft to hard. dH range: 2.0 - 30.0 Temperature: 75ºF to 82ºF (24-28°C) Classification: Order: Siluriformes Family: Loricariidae Subfamily: Ancistrinae Genera: Panaque Species: maccus

 

Common name:

Clown Pleco Ringlet Pleco

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Additional species photographs

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Distribution

Rio Orinoco Basin (Venezuela), Rio Las Marinas (Venezuela) and Colombian Llanos. Variants of the species have also been found in Amazon Basin of Brazil.

Except for the belly area the body is covered with large bony plates. The head is flat, broad and quite large. The mouth is found on the underside of the head and typical for the species, is shaped like a suction cup. It has one pair of barbels. The eyes are slightly protruding from the head.

The color varies, depending on the species, age , and the area in which it was found. Generally the base color of the body is light brown to black, but can vary in shade to almost white. The belly area is white. The most noticeable coloration of the fish are its stripes which consist of 5-12 orange to white stripes. Sometimes these stripes are so broad that they appear to merge with the main body color and the fish seems to have black stripes. The fins are also striped like the main body.

The Clown Pleco is a beautiful specimen exhibiting a brown and tan stripe pattern (which changes as the fish matures). If you need to see your fish on a daily, weekly, or even monthly basis this fish probably is not for you. The Clown Pleco is found in root structures at the banks and driftwood dams. Where, due to its coloration, it is difficult to find. Properly housed, the same conditions in your tank will make him difficult to spot. Complicating sightings by the hobbyist is tank lighting. This species will not exhibit robust daytime activity in an improperly designed environment. Rather, they will stay in the shadows afforded by wood and rocks, as well as camping out in the small sized caves that should be provided. The Clown Pleco becomes easier to spot moving from location to location in dim light environments. The Clown is a wood eater, so driftwood is a must. It is territorial and will stake a claim to areas at the base of its favorite driftwood or a near by cave. At feeding times the Clown pleco will defend its patch of substrate against interlopers eating its food. Also, vegetables (zucchini, cucumbers, sweet potato, etc.) are required. Sinking pellets as well as algae and vegetable wafers should also be fed to this fish. This species creates a lot of waste. Good mechanical filtration and tank cleaning practices are required. Caution: If you are after an active algae eater this is not the fish to get.

Rivers of its' home range

Breeding:

Easy to Intermediate level of difficulty.

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From: Steve Date:06/16/2008 Usually very peaceful. Stays under the driftwood all the time. I also have a Clown Loach and they sit under there together, however I've seen the pleco chase him away before. From: Pavel Date:01/28/2008 The Clown Pleco is a magnificent type of fish. This pleco in my tank spends his time under caves and shadows. I never see him out of his home until I have to clean the tank and move his hiding place. This type of pleco are for people who have caves and driftwood for such creatures. They will mark there territory and may not be friendly to other fish. Watch out for the spines for they are really sharp. From: Bobby Date:01/10/2008 I have two clowns and I must say they are fantastic at eating algae. As soon as mine became comfortable in the tank, it's off too work they went. Some places say they are shy and don't eat algae, but I guess all individual clowns must different. I have really enjoyed watching mine. From: Zak Date:05/31/2007 I've have 2 clown plecos for a while now. If you want to see more of them just put zucchini (blanched or unblanched - I don't blanch it)in as food for them. If you can't get it to sink just bend one end of a paperclip up and stick the zucchini on like you bait a hook and stick the other end under the rocks. From: Christina Date:12/28/2006 Just a note to those who have alot of driftwood in their tanks. The more wood you have, the greater the chance that you will not see much of your beautiful clown other than the tip of his tail (which is cute, wiggling back and forth). My experience is that they absolutely love driftwood over anything else. Very rarely, will mine venture out from their woody haven for algae, pellets or anything else. Even at night under a low wattage actinic, they prefer to move from one root to another. However, I do love to have this species in my tanks, they're cute and you just can't beat the size factor. I'd much rather have 6 plecos that won't outgrow my 90g rather than one that will. Enjoy! From: Rich Date:12/05/2006 I recently bought a 3" clown to put into my new-world cichlid tank. He very rarely does comes out, but does make a beautiful addition with my brightly colored dempseys. definitely not a fish with much personality, but still a wonderful addition when you want something "different" or cant house the usual big commons From: Ray Chang Date:10/20/2004 I bought what was labeled and described to me as a baby Royal Pleco. Two months later I find out it is actually a Clown Pleco. This pleco does wonders for cleaning algae. Every morning, I wake up and a large section of my tank has been completely scrubbed of algae. I had a plastic root that had been growing algae on it for years, making it look real. None of my other algae eating fish in my tank could get the algae off. The pleco cleaned the entire thing bare in just a few weeks. It does not seem to be scared of lights, it is always exploring at all hours, but he does most of his eating at night. From: a2z_2501 Date:12/31/2003 I got two 2-inch clown plecos to clean up a brown-algae problem in a 55-gallon tank at the advice of a fish shop employee. They have done a great job cleaning algae off every surface in the tank. Chinese algae eaters never did as well cleaning the algae as these clown plecos. They must do all that cleaning in the dark. I only see them clinging to rocks or driftwood during the day. From: Andy Date:12/09/2003 I have had a clown plec for about 1 month now they are very shy fish. They only seem to come out once in a blue moon. Mine hides under the piece of slate I have in my tank. In the month I have had him I have seen him out ONCE!!!. don't seem to like being disturbed by corys and kuli's, in fact gives them a little push out of his area in the tank.

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