Meet Panaque maccus (L104) – Aka Clown Plecostomus

Clown Plecostomus – What You Need To Know

Also known as a Clown Plecotomus. These are a common small sucker mouthed catfish that will hide until the end of days.

Classification Info

Scientific name: Panaque maccus
Family: Loricariidae
Max Size: 3.5 inches (8.8 cm)
Water Type: Freshwater

Why We Love Clown Plecos

Clown Plecostomus are a great addition to your smaller aquariums because they only reach a max size of 3.5 inches. The downside would be they will hide unless they are comfortable with your presence. They are more active at night so that is the best time to catch the in action roaming around the aquarium. We currently have two little ones as seen pictured below and they have many differences between them. One is a chubby chonker that will hide for months on end. The other ones is less shy, has bolder stripes and is smaller than our older one.

Majority, if not all, of plecostomus are considered catfish which means they are the bottom dwellers of the aquarium. They’ll hide in driftwood or rock crevices that are available and some will come out during feeding time if they are comfortable enough with their environment. Clown Plecostomus are very peaceful and do well in community aquariums.

These little guys can be found at most LFS’s or big box pet stores. If you decide the Clown Plecostomus is the right fish for you, make sure add some driftwood to your tank because they are known as a wood-eating fish.