Aquariumcatfish · freshwater
Clown Pleco: adult size, tank size & tankmates
The Clown Pleco (Panaqolus maccus) grows to about 4.2 in (8.8 cm SL). It needs a tank at least about 20 gallons. It doesn't need a group of its own kind, at 73–82°F.
How big it really gets
Drawn to scale against common tank lengths. Green bars meet the minimum tank length from our sources.
Will it fit your tank?
Quick facts
- Adult size
- 4.2 in (8.8 cm SL)
- Minimum tank
- about 20 gallons
- Temperature
- 73–82°F
- pH
- 6.8–7.6
- Hardness
- not stated
- Group size
- 1 (solitary or pair)
- With other fish
- peaceful
- With its own kind
- semi-aggressive
- Swims
- bottom of the tank
- Diet
- specialist
- Care level
- beginner
- Lifespan
- not stated in sources
Clown Pleco tankmates
Checked with the same rules as our tank builder: temperature overlap, pH and hardness, predation and mouth size, fin-nipping and temperament. Tank size is left out here; check it in the builder.
Good tankmates
- Neon TetraAdult ~1.4 in · 70–77°F
- Cardinal TetraAdult ~1.7 in · 73–84°F
- Harlequin RasboraAdult ~2.1 in · 70–82°F
- Ember TetraAdult ~0.9 in · 68–82°F
- Chili RasboraAdult ~0.9 in · 68–82°F
- Celestial Pearl DanioAdult ~1 in · 68–79°F
- Cherry BarbAdult ~2.4 in · 68–81°F
- Rummy-nose TetraAdult ~2.4 in · 73–79°F
- Black Neon TetraAdult ~1.7 in · 73–82°F
- Glowlight TetraAdult ~1.9 in · 75–82°F
Use caution
- German Blue RamNeeds careClown Pleco and German Blue Ram only share 81–82°F. That's a tight window.
- AngelfishNeeds careAngelfish can bully smaller, peaceful Clown Pleco.
- Nerite SnailClown Pleco (pH 6.8–7.6) and Nerite Snail (pH 8–8.4) prefer different pH.
- Mystery SnailClown Pleco (pH 6.8–7.6) and Mystery Snail (pH unknown) prefer different pH.
- Boesemani RainbowfishClown Pleco and Boesemani Rainbowfish only share 81–82°F. That's a tight window.
- Blood Parrot CichlidOutgrows tanksBlood Parrot Cichlid can bully smaller, peaceful Clown Pleco.
- Cockatoo Dwarf CichlidClown Pleco (pH 6.8–7.6) and Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) prefer different pH.
- Electric Blue AcaraNeeds careElectric Blue Acara can bully smaller, peaceful Clown Pleco.
Avoid
- White Cloud Mountain MinnowNeeds careClown Pleco (73–82°F) and White Cloud Mountain Minnow (57–72°F) need different temperatures.
- Chinese Algae EaterOutgrows tanksChinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Clown Pleco is peaceful.
- Convict CichlidNeeds careConvict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Clown Pleco is peaceful.
- Fancy GoldfishOutgrows tanksClown Pleco (73–82°F) and Fancy Goldfish (50–70°F) need different temperatures.
- Iridescent SharkOutgrows tanksIridescent Shark eats small fish, and Clown Pleco only grows to about 4.2 in.
- Paradise FishNeeds careClown Pleco (73–82°F) and Paradise Fish (50–72°F) need different temperatures.
All 105 species we checked against the Clown Pleco
| Species | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| African Dwarf Frog | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Amano Shrimp | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Assassin Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bala Shark | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bamboo Shrimp | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Betta | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Black Neon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Black Skirt Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bleeding Heart Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bolivian Ram | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bristlenose Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bronze Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Buenos Aires Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bumblebee Goby | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cardinal Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Celestial Pearl Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cherry Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cherry Shrimp | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Chili Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Killifish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Common / Comet Goldfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Common Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Congo Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Crystal Red Shrimp | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Denison Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Diamond Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Discus | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Dwarf Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Ember Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Endler's Livebearer | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Firemouth Cichlid | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Forktail Blue-eye | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Ghost Shrimp | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Giant Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Glass Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Glowlight Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Gold Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Guppy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Harlequin Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Head-and-tail-light Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Hillstream Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Honey Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Japanese Trapdoor Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Julii Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Kribensis | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Kuhli Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Lambchop Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Lemon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Malaysian Trumpet Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Marbled Hatchetfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Molly | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Moonlight Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Neon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Odessa Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Otocinclus | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Panda Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pea Puffer | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pearl Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pearl Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Penguin Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Peppered Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pictus Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Platy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pristella Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pygmy Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Ramshorn Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Red-Tail Shark | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Rosy Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Rummy-nose Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Scissortail Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Serpae Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Siamese Algae Eater | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Silver Hatchetfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Silver Tip Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Sparkling Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Sterbai Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Swordtail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Tiger Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Tinfoil Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Upside-down Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Variatus Platy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Zebra Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Angelfish | Caution | Angelfish can bully smaller, peaceful Clown Pleco. |
| Blood Parrot Cichlid | Caution | Blood Parrot Cichlid can bully smaller, peaceful Clown Pleco. |
| Boesemani Rainbowfish | Caution | Clown Pleco and Boesemani Rainbowfish only share 81–82°F. That's a tight window. |
| Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid | Caution | Clown Pleco (pH 6.8–7.6) and Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) prefer different pH. |
| Electric Blue Acara | Caution | Electric Blue Acara can bully smaller, peaceful Clown Pleco. |
| Electric Yellow Lab | Caution | Clown Pleco (pH 6.8–7.6) and Electric Yellow Lab (pH 7.7–8.6) prefer different pH. |
| German Blue Ram | Caution | Clown Pleco and German Blue Ram only share 81–82°F. That's a tight window. |
| Kissing Gourami | Caution | Kissing Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful Clown Pleco. |
| Mystery Snail | Caution | Clown Pleco (pH 6.8–7.6) and Mystery Snail (pH unknown) prefer different pH. |
| Nerite Snail | Caution | Clown Pleco (pH 6.8–7.6) and Nerite Snail (pH 8–8.4) prefer different pH. |
| Oscar | Caution | Oscar can bully smaller, peaceful Clown Pleco. |
| Rainbow Shark | Caution | Rainbow Shark can bully smaller, peaceful Clown Pleco. |
| Three-spot Gourami | Caution | Three-spot Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful Clown Pleco. |
| Weather Loach | Caution | Clown Pleco and Weather Loach only share 73–74°F. That's a tight window. |
| Yoyo Loach | Caution | Yoyo Loach can bully smaller, peaceful Clown Pleco. |
| Chinese Algae Eater | Avoid | Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Clown Pleco is peaceful. |
| Convict Cichlid | Avoid | Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Clown Pleco is peaceful. |
| Fancy Goldfish | Avoid | Clown Pleco (73–82°F) and Fancy Goldfish (50–70°F) need different temperatures. |
| Iridescent Shark | Avoid | Iridescent Shark eats small fish, and Clown Pleco only grows to about 4.2 in. |
| Paradise Fish | Avoid | Clown Pleco (73–82°F) and Paradise Fish (50–72°F) need different temperatures. |
| White Cloud Mountain Minnow | Avoid | Clown Pleco (73–82°F) and White Cloud Mountain Minnow (57–72°F) need different temperatures. |
Care notes
Needs: Wood-eater - several types of driftwood are required in the tank; also feed vegetables (squash, cucumber, yam) and some frozen food; heavy waste, needs good mechanical filtration.
Group: Not a shoaling fish; usually kept singly. PlanetCatfish shows evidence of territorial fights between individuals; a group of wood-eating plecos needs a larger tank.
Temperament: peaceful toward other fish, semi-aggressive toward its own kind. Lives in the bottom of the tank.
Common questions
How big does a Clown Pleco get?
About 4.2 inches (8.8 cm SL) as an adult, according to planetcatfish.com.
What size tank does a Clown Pleco need?
At least about 20 gallons. The smallest standard tank that meets that is a 20 gallon long.
How many Clown Plecos should be kept together?
It can be kept on its own. Not a shoaling fish; usually kept singly. PlanetCatfish shows evidence of territorial fights between individuals; a group of wood-eating plecos needs a larger tank.
What fish can live with a Clown Pleco?
Species that passed every check include Neon Tetra, Cardinal Tetra, Harlequin Rasbora, Ember Tetra, Chili Rasbora, Celestial Pearl Danio.
Gear for a Clown Pleco setup
TankSmallest standard tank that meets its minimum: 20 gallon long (30 in long).Find on Amazon →HeaterAbout 100 W for 20 gallons, holding 73–82°F.Find on Amazon →DriftwoodGrazing wood and biofilm are part of its diet.Find on Amazon →FoodSinking food reaches the bottom before tankmates grab it.Find on Amazon →Test kitCheck ammonia, nitrite and pH. Cycle the tank before adding fish.Find on Amazon →
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Related guides
Sources
Values come from these pages, in our own words. Status: researched from source pages. Last reviewed 2026-10-12.
- planetcatfish.com /L104
- fishbase.se /summary/Panaqolus-maccus.html