CheckMyFishTankClown Pleco care
Panaqolus maccus · Freshwater · Intermediate level care
A small, striped pleco that eats wood and algae.
Feeding
Once a day. A small pinch of flakes plus fresh vegetables or an algae wafer left in for a few hours. Driftwood to rasp, algae wafers, blanched vegetables.
Claims a territory and guards it.
Good tank mates
Fish that pass every check with Clown Pleco in a 40 gallon tank: same water, overlapping temperature, nobody gets eaten and no bullies.
Do not mix with
- Tinfoil Barb: Tinfoil Barb grows big enough to eat Clown Pleco.
- White Cloud Mountain Minnow: White Cloud Mountain Minnow and Clown Pleco need different water temperatures.
- Convict Cichlid: Convict Cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful Clown Pleco.
- Oscar: Oscar grows big enough to eat Clown Pleco.
- Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully peaceful Clown Pleco.
- Green Terror: Green Terror grows big enough to eat Clown Pleco.
- Red Zebra Cichlid: Red Zebra Cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful Clown Pleco.
- Cobalt Blue Zebra: Cobalt Blue Zebra is aggressive and will bully peaceful Clown Pleco.
Questions
What size tank does a Clown Pleco need?
At least 20 gallons. Adults grow to about 4 inches, so plan for the adult size, not the size at the store.
What temperature does a Clown Pleco like?
73 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit, with a pH of about 6 to 7.5. A steady temperature matters more than hitting one exact number.
How many Clown Pleco should I keep together?
One is fine. If you keep more, keep one male, since males fight each other.
What do Clown Pleco eat?
Driftwood to rasp, algae wafers, blanched vegetables. Feed once a day: a small pinch of flakes plus fresh vegetables or an algae wafer left in for a few hours.
Sources
Checked against these sources on 2026-11-10. When sources disagree we use the safer number.