Panaque maccus

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Clown Panaque

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Siluriformes
Family:	Loricariidae
Genus:	Panaque
Subgenus:	Panaqolus^[1]
Species:	P. maccus

Binomial name

Panaque maccus
Schaefer & Stewart, 1993

Panaque maccus, commonly called the clown panaque, clown plecostomus, clown pleco, or ringlet pleco, is a dwarf loricariid. By numbering systems such as the L-number system, this fish may also be known as L104, L162, or LDA22.^[2]

1 Distribution and habitat
2 Description
3 In the aquarium
4 Sources

[edit] Distribution and habitat

It originates in Colombia and Venezuala in a clear water biotope.^{[citation needed]} This fish originates from the Apuré and Caroní River basins.^[3] Their natural environment driftwood tangles near riverbanks.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Description

This species is a small loricariid. It reaches a length of about 8.8 centimetres (3.5 in) SL.^[3]

This species has a striped pattern. However, this colouration may change with age. Also, there are specimens with straight bars, but there are also specimens with a broken or wavy pattern. The wavy pattern form is found in the actual Orinoco and its tributaries in Bolivar State, Venezuela, while the "normal" patterned P. maccus comes from further north and west (Cojedes, Portuguesa, Guarico, and Apure States) in the llanos where the drainages run into the Apure River.^[2]

[edit] In the aquarium

P. maccus is one of the most common species of small, striped loricariids available in the fishkeeping hobby. This species adapts well to aquarium life.^[2] They are not too difficult to spawn.^[2]

The clown pleco attains a maximum size of 4" which makes it an ideal species for small (10 gallons+) aquaria. In the aquarium, panaque maccus eat primarily vegetable matter and they must be provided with driftwood, as wood forms a large part of their diet. Their diet should also occasionally be supplemented with higher protein foods such as shrimp pellets, bloodworms, glassworms, etc. Loricariids are constant grazers, due to this fact, they produce large amounts of waste. They should be provided with a strong current in the aquarium and plenty of surfaces to attach themselves. Ideally, the aquarium should be a river set up, using pvc pipes to achieve a one directional flow. The water should be fairly warm, 78F-81F. Multiple individuals should be kept in a larger tank with plenty of hiding places to allow each fish to establish a territory. The clown pleco is a reclusive fish and will rarely stray from its chosen piece of driftwood, usually swimming no more than 6" in either direction in search of food. They do well with tankmates and are a good species for a community aquarium. Mature males of this species will develop interopercular odontodes on the rear half of the body.^{[citation needed]}