{"product_id":"clown-pleco-l104","title":"Clown Pleco L104","description":"\u003ch2 style=\"font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 1.4em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0.08em; color: #0a2a3a; border-bottom: 2px solid #3a7ca5; padding-bottom: 8px; margin-bottom: 18px; text-transform: uppercase;\"\u003eClown Pleco\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 1.05em; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 16px; color: #2c2c2c;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eClown Pleco, L104\u003c\/strong\u003e (\u003cem\u003ePanaqolus maccus\u003c\/em\u003e) is one of the most widely available and beginner-friendly wood-eating plecos — a compact, beautifully patterned fish with dark body and pale orange-yellow line patterning. At 3.5 inches it is one of the smallest Panaqolus species. Wood-eating plecos of the Panaque and Panaqolus genera are the only vertebrates known to digest wood cellulose — a remarkable biological specialization that makes driftwood not just beneficial but essential.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 1.05em; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 16px; background-color: #e0f0f8; border: 1px solid #b0d0e8; padding: 14px 18px; color: #0a2a3a;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFeeding \u0026amp; Care Tip:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eDriftwood must always be present\u003c\/strong\u003e — the fish will rasp it continuously. Supplement with \u003cstrong\u003eHikari Sinking Wafers\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eSera Nature Pleco Chips\u003c\/strong\u003e. Offer blanched vegetables (zucchini, cucumber) and \u003cstrong\u003eHikari Frozen or Freeze-Dried Bloodworms\u003c\/strong\u003e 2–3 times per week. Strong filtration is essential — wood-eating produces significant waste.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 1.05em; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 16px; background-color: #fce4d6; border: 1px solid #f4b183; padding: 14px 18px; color: #7b2000;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e⚠ Driftwood Requirement:\u003c\/strong\u003e Wood-eating Panaque and Panaqolus plecos must have driftwood available at all times. These fish rasp wood continuously as a dietary and behavioral necessity — their specialized teeth and digestive system are adapted for extracting nutrition from wood cellulose. \u003cstrong\u003eWithout driftwood, these fish will decline regardless of other foods provided.\u003c\/strong\u003e The aquarium must contain one or more substantial pieces of driftwood permanently.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 1.05em; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 16px; color: #2c2c2c;\"\u003eWood-eating plecos inhabit rocky rivers with abundant submerged wood. In the aquarium, driftwood must always be present — it is both food and shelter. Strong filtration is essential: wood-eating plecos produce enormous amounts of wood-fiber waste. Regular water changes help manage water quality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 1.05em; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 16px; color: #2c2c2c;\"\u003ePanaque species have the most specialized teeth of any loricariid — spoon-shaped teeth adapted for gouging wood — and a digestive system capable of extracting nutrition from wood cellulose. They are the only vertebrates known to subsist significantly on wood. In the aquarium, providing large pieces of driftwood that the fish can rasp is not optional — it is fundamental to their health.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 1.05em; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 24px; color: #2c2c2c;\"\u003eCave spawner — males guard eggs in tight wood crevices or PVC tubes. The cave-guarding behavior of Panaque males is attentive and persistent. Provide multiple pieces of driftwood with natural crevices.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 1.05em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0.1em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #0a2a3a; border-top: 1px solid #b0d0e8; padding-top: 18px; margin-bottom: 14px;\"\u003eCare \u0026amp; Ideal Parameters\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 0.92em;\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 9px 14px; background-color: #e0f0f8; color: #0a2a3a; font-weight: 600; width: 38%; border: 1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 9px 14px; background-color: #e0f0f8; color: #2c2c2c; border: 1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003eEasy — Moderate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 9px 14px; background-color: #ffffff; color: #0a2a3a; font-weight: 600; width: 38%; border: 1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 9px 14px; background-color: #ffffff; color: #2c2c2c; border: 1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003ePeaceful — territorial between males\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 9px 14px; background-color: #e0f0f8; color: #0a2a3a; font-weight: 600; width: 38%; border: 1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003eTypical Adult Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 9px 14px; background-color: #e0f0f8; color: #2c2c2c; border: 1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003e3.5 inches (9 cm)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 9px 14px; background-color: #ffffff; color: #0a2a3a; font-weight: 600; width: 38%; border: 1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003eMin. Group Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 9px 14px; background-color: #ffffff; color: #2c2c2c; border: 1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003eSingly or pair\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 9px 14px; background-color: #e0f0f8; color: #0a2a3a; font-weight: 600; width: 38%; border: 1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003eIdeal Temp\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 9px 14px; background-color: #e0f0f8; color: #2c2c2c; border: 1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003e75–84°F (24–29°C)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 9px 14px; background-color: #ffffff; color: #0a2a3a; font-weight: 600; width: 38%; border: 1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003eIdeal pH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 9px 14px; background-color: #ffffff; color: #2c2c2c; border: 1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003e6.0–7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 9px 14px; background-color: #e0f0f8; color: #0a2a3a; font-weight: 600; width: 38%; border: 1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003eIdeal GH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 9px 14px; background-color: #e0f0f8; color: #2c2c2c; border: 1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003e2–15 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 9px 14px; background-color: #ffffff; color: #0a2a3a; font-weight: 600; width: 38%; border: 1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003eIdeal KH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 9px 14px; background-color: #ffffff; color: #2c2c2c; border: 1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003e0–8 dKH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 9px 14px; background-color: #e0f0f8; color: #0a2a3a; font-weight: 600; width: 38%; border: 1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003eStaple Food\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 9px 14px; background-color: #e0f0f8; color: #2c2c2c; border: 1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003eDriftwood (always present); Hikari Sinking Wafers; Sera Nature Pleco Chips\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 9px 14px; background-color: #ffffff; color: #0a2a3a; font-weight: 600; width: 38%; border: 1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003eTreat \/ Supplement\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 9px 14px; background-color: #ffffff; color: #2c2c2c; border: 1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003eHikari Frozen or Freeze-Dried Bloodworms; blanched vegetables\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 9px 14px; background-color: #e0f0f8; color: #0a2a3a; font-weight: 600; width: 38%; border: 1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 9px 14px; background-color: #e0f0f8; color: #2c2c2c; border: 1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003eOrinoco and Apure River drainages, Venezuela\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 9px 14px; background-color: #ffffff; color: #0a2a3a; font-weight: 600; width: 38%; border: 1px solid #b0d0e8; vertical-align: top;\"\u003eNotes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 9px 14px; background-color: #ffffff; color: #2c2c2c; border: 1px solid #b0d0e8;\"\u003eSmallest commonly available wood-eating pleco. Orinoco drainage. Highly recommended for planted tanks with driftwood. Driftwood essential.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e","brand":"Cuboid Nature Aquarium","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48011222286647,"sku":"Panaqolus maccus","price":15.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/cuboidstore.com\/products\/clown-pleco-l104","provider":"Cuboid Aquatics LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}