The clown pleco (Panaque maccus) is an exquisite tank fish that requires little maintenance; making it an excellent choice for beginner aquarium owners. But this does not mean they are indestructible - and extra care will go far toward protecting its health and well-being.
This armored catfish belongs to the Loricariidae family of South American suckermouth catfish and is commonly referred to as a clown pleco, sharing this common name with other members of its genus Panaque. Like its Loricariidae counterparts, this species also features an arched head which angles down towards the bottom of its aquarium tank; an ample rasping mouth for scraping algae off rocks and driftwood; long pectoral and dorsal fins which can be spread open when resting or otherwise relaxed; long pectoral and dorsal fins that can fan out when relaxed; as with other Loricariidae species it shares these features as well.
These fish are predominantly bottom dwellers and require an environment with soft, coarse or medium textures and ample pore space for bacterial growth. A few inches of Seachem Flourite Dark or CaribSea Sunset Gold Sand would be an appropriate substrate, as would live plants such as Amazon frogbit or Hornwort that stay suspended in the water to block out light and allow scavenger fish such as clownfish to harvest algae that otherwise would be exposed to sunlight.
Clown plecos are peaceful species that won't harm other tankmates; however, they may become territorial with members of their own species. Driftwood branches and decorations offer shelter to clown plecos while also providing food as they scrape nutrient-rich biofilm off walls and trees; additionally they enjoy nibbling at rocks with great gusto--but be cautious not to hurt themselves while doing this activity!
