Clown pleco care

Water temperature

73–82°F

A clown pleco wants water at 73–82°F, pH 6.5–7.5, and a tank of 20 gallons or bigger. Good tank mates include bettas, guppies, angelfish.

Small pleco that rasps wood. Needs driftwood in the tank.

Panaqolus maccus

pH

6.5–7.5

Minimum tank

20 gal

Adult size

3.5 in

Temperament

Peaceful

Group

Alone or in pairs

Lifespan

10–12 years

Swims at

Bottom

Diet

Herbivore

Best tank mates

• BettaYes
• GuppyYes
• AngelfishYes
• Tiger barbYes
• Honey gouramiYes
• Congo tetraYes
• Sparkling gouramiYes
• Blue gouramiYes
• Dwarf gouramiYes
• Cherry barbYes
• Lemon tetraYes
• Electric blue acaraYes

Full clown pleco tank mate chart: 74 yes, 12 with care, 12 no

Clown pleco water compared

Fish to keep away from clown plecos

• Axolotl Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); clown plecos need 73–82°F. No temperature suits both.
• Oscar An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3.5 inches clown plecos do.
• Jack Dempsey An adult jack dempsey eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3.5 inches clown plecos do.
• Goldfish Goldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); clown plecos need 73–82°F. They overlap only at 73–74°F, the edge of both ranges.
• Convict cichlid Convict cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful clown plecos.
• Bichir An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3.5 inches clown plecos do.
• Black ghost knife An adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3.5 inches clown plecos do.
• African cichlid African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful clown plecos.

More catfish and plecos

• Corydoras72–79°F
• Bristlenose pleco73–81°F
• Pictus catfish72–79°F
• Otocinclus72–79°F
• Panda cory68–77°F
• Common pleco72–86°F
• Glass catfish75–80°F
• Upside down catfish72–79°F