| Sep 11, 2018
The Clown Plecostomus!
While we have already discussed the potential benefits of incorporating a plecostomus into your tank, (you may see that previous blog post here) we are now going to take a peek at one of the more overlooked types of plecostomus: the Clown Plecostomus a.k.a. Panaqolus maccus, clown panaque, or ringlet pleco of the Dwarf loricariid catfish group.
The Panaqolus maccus lives naturally in Venezuela in driftwood-entangled riverbanks. They have a beautiful, striped or wavy pattern that can range in coloration from white to bright orange on its typically dark body. Color can change on a number of factors, though, such as age, origin, mood, and diet. Clown pleco's can add a bit of flash and panache to almost any community tank or planted aquarium!
Good filtration and a constant source of driftwood are both necessities for keeping this species. Their primary diet derives from the driftwood, but this can be supplemented with select, small amounts of veggies, algae wafers, or other suitable foods. A clown pleco also would not deny the occasional meat source, as well, like daphnia, bloodworms, or other similar offerings.
Reaching up to only 3.5 - 4 inches in length, the Clown Pleco stays fairly small and therefore won't outgrow your tank, either! It adapts well to many aquatic environmental conditions and tank mates as long as there is enough space and some driftwood to feed upon. The Panaqolus maccus is normally a very peaceful fish and will get along pretty much with any other community fish as long as they are not aggressive cichlids or large enough to eat the plecostomus.
These Clown Pleco's can do wonders for a planted tank as they are more often eating the algae and from the wood than uprooting or eating the actual plants as some other species may be more inclined to do. Right now until October 15th, 2018, you can get a Clown Plecostomus for your tank at only $9.99 at Uncle Bill's Pet Centers!