Species Profile
Clown Pleco
Panaqolus maccus
Plecospeaceful
Adult size
3.5″
Minimum tank
30 gal
Temperature
73–82°F
pH
6.8–7.6
Schooling
Solitary OK
Water level
bottom
Grows from juvenile
Typically sold at ~2″ and reaches 3.5″ over ~1 year. Plan tank size for the adult, not the fish at purchase.Diet
Driftwood, blanched veggies, algae wafers
Notes
Stays small unlike most plecos (3.5″ adult), making it the rare pleco that fits a community tank long-term. Wood-eater, driftwood in the tank is non-negotiable for digestion. Mostly nocturnal; hides during the day.
Compatible Tankmates
Best tank mates for Clown Pleco
Every species below passes the compatibility engine when paired with Clown Plecoin a suitably sized tank. Verdicts come from the same rules the builder uses — click a card to see that species' own care profile and its tank mates in turn.
Neon Tetra
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Cardinal Tetra
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Rummynose Tetra
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Harlequin Rasbora
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Zebra Danio
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Fancy Guppy
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Platy
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Molly
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Swordtail
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Male Betta
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Dwarf Gourami
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Honey Gourami
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Photo: Jarne Colman / Wikimedia Commons · Source · CC0-1.0