{"product_id":"l168-clown-pleco-panaqolus-maccus","title":"L168 Clown Pleco | Panaqolus maccus","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe L168 Clown Pleco is a small, beautifully banded catfish that stays under 10 cm, making it one of the best plecos for smaller aquariums. Marked with warm brown and cream stripes, it is a peaceful, hardy wood-grazer and a wonderful clean-up crew member — provided you give it what it truly needs: driftwood to rasp on.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eClown plecos come from the fast, wood-choked streams and river margins of the Orinoco and Apure basins in Venezuela and Colombia. They spend their days wedged among submerged branches and leaf litter in warm, soft to neutral, well-oxygenated water, rasping at the biofilm and softened wood.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA compact, sturdy loricariid with a broad head and a body patterned in alternating bands of chocolate-brown and buff-cream, sometimes with a reddish or yellow cast. The banding varies between individuals and can fade or sharpen with mood and water conditions. Mature males develop bristly odontodes on the pectoral fins and body.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeaceful and shy, spending much of the day hidden. Males can be territorial toward other clown plecos and cave-dwellers, so give each fish its own wood and cave. It is completely safe with community fish and ignores mid- and upper-water tankmates.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA specialised wood-eater (xylivore): driftwood is essential to its diet and digestion, not just decoration, so always provide at least one good piece of aquarium-safe wood. Supplement with quality algae wafers, spirulina and blanched vegetables such as zucchini, cucumber and peas, plus the occasional sinking meaty food.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eGive it an aquarium of at least 75 litres with plenty of driftwood, caves and hiding places, gentle to moderate flow and good oxygenation. It prefers warm, soft to neutral, clean water and appreciates a mature tank with some natural biofilm. Regular water changes keep it healthy.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA cave-spawner that can be bred in the home aquarium. The male claims and cleans a narrow cave, the female lays her eggs inside, and the male guards and fans the clutch and fry. Ample driftwood, soft warm water and slim caves improve the chances of success.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePanaqolus maccus (L168)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eClown Pleco\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrinoco and Apure basins, Venezuela and Colombia\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e9–10 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10–12 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful (territorial with own kind)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeginner\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e75 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e110+ litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eXylivore\/herbivore (driftwood, algae, vegetables; occasional meaty foods)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e23–28 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.5–7.6\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–15 dGH (soft to moderately hard)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommunity and planted aquariums with driftwood\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes (rasps wood and algae, leaves healthy plants)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeaceful community fish such as tetras, rasboras, danios, livebearers, dwarf cichlids, Corydoras and gouramis.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eOther clown plecos or cave-dwellers competing for the same wood without enough hides, aggressive large cichlids, and boisterous fish that outcompete this shy grazer for food.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232804520227,"sku":"BA8434","price":99.99,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232804552995,"sku":"BA8434-M","price":109.99,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/l168-clown-pleco-panaqolus-m-43886204780835.webp?v=1790306092","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/l168-clown-pleco-panaqolus-maccus","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}