Home · Loricariidae · Clown panaque
Clown panaque (Panaqolus maccus) — Loricariidae

Clown panaque

Panaqolus maccus
Family: Loricariidae

The Clown panaque (Panaqolus maccus) is a freshwater fish of the family Loricariidae that grows up to 9 cm.

Length
8.8 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Herbivore
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The clown panaque is a small armoured catfish (Loricariidae) from fresh water of the Apure and Orinoco region in Venezuela. The species grows to about 9 cm and has a flattened, bony-plated body with alternating brown and orange crossbands and a broad sucker mouth with spoon-shaped teeth. As a bottom-dweller it rasps wood growth and algae from driftwood, which it also partly digests. The fish is harmless to humans and is popular in the aquarium trade.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Clown panaque?

The Clown panaque has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a vertical stripes pattern.

Where does the Clown panaque live?

The Clown panaque lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom.

How big does the Clown panaque get?

The Clown panaque grows to a maximum of about 9 cm.

Is the Clown panaque dangerous to humans?

No, the Clown panaque is harmless to humans.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Clown-panaque sourced
English name
Clown panaque sourced
Scientific name
Panaqolus maccus
Family
Loricariidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
8.8 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Vertical bars sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Herbivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Panaqolus

More from the family Loricariidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →