Clown Panaque

Panaque maccus

Family : Loricariidae

FishFreshwaterpanaque

The Clown Panaque is a small freshwater catfish with a spotted pattern, very popular in aquariums.

Popularity
Biotope specialist
requires biotope recreation
Availability
Order only
Shop availability
IUCN Status
LC
Least Concern
Biotope
South America
Hors bassin amazonien : Paraná, Orénoque, Andes.

Description

This fish has a stocky body and a beige to yellow coloration with large black spots. It has a sucker mouth and teeth adapted for scraping wood. It reaches a maximum size of about 12 cm. It is a peaceful and nocturnal species that appreciates hiding places. It is less dependent on wood than large Panaque but still consumes it. It is often confused with other small Panaque species. Its maintenance is relatively easy.

Habitat

Region :

Rivers and streams of the Orinoco basin

Distribution :

Recommended parameters

Temperature2428 °C
pH67.5
GH210 °dGH
KH15 °dKH
NO₃
≤ 20 mg/L
PO₄
≤ 0.5 mg/L

Care

Difficulty
2/5
Diet
Herbivore
Min. tank
100 L
Min. group
1
Adult size
12 cm
Lifespan
10 years
Temperament
Peaceful
Propagation
cave spawner

Care notes

A tank of at least 100 liters is recommended. Water should be soft to moderately hard (GH 2-10), acidic to neutral (pH 6.0-7.5) and at a temperature of 24-28°C. Provide driftwood, caves, and plants. Diet should include blanched vegetables, herbivore pellets, and wood. Nitrates should stay below 20 mg/L. Moderate filtration and regular water changes are sufficient. This species is compatible with peaceful fish of similar size. Avoid aggressive species.

Similar species

Espèces proches, même habitat ou même maintenance

References