Honeycomb Pleco Tank Mates

• Banjo Catfish✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 15 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
  • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
• Bearded Corydoras✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 10 cm · Medium care · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
  • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
• Black Kuhli Loach✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 8 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
  • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
• Bolivian Ram✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 8 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
  • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
• Bristlenose Pleco✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 23–30 °C (73–86 °F)
  • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–29 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
• Burmese Loach✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 9 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
  • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
• Clown Pleco✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 9 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
  • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
• Elephant-nose Knifefish✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 35 cm · Hard care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
  • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–29 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
• Giant Kuhli Loach✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
  • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
• Kuhli Loach✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
  • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–29 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
• Leopard Frog Pleco✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 9 cm · Medium care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
  • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
• Marbled Hoplo✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 14 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
  • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
• Medusa Pleco✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)
  • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 26–29 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
• Porthole Catfish✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
  • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
• Rubber Lip Pleco✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
  • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
• Snowball Pleco✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 16 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
  • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–29 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
• Spotted Rubbernose Pleco✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
  • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
• Spotted Talking Catfish✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 15 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
  • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
• Striped Eel Loach✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
  • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
• Upside-down Catfish✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
  • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
• Weather Loach✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 25 cm · Easy care · 5–24 °C (41–75 °F)
  • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
• Yellow-spotted Pleco✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 35 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
  • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
• Zebra Loach✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 9 cm · Medium care · 23–26 °C (73–79 °F)
  • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
• Zebra Pleco✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 10 cm · Hard care · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)
  • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 26–29 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
• Altifrons Geophagus⚠️ With caution
  Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
  • Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
  • Your 280 L tank is below the ~378 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Keep Altifrons Geophagus in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
• Angelicus Synodontis⚠️ With caution
  Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · Medium care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
  • Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
• Blood Parrot Cichlid⚠️ With caution
  Semi-aggressive · 20 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
  • Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
• Discus⚠️ With caution
  Peaceful · 20 cm · Hard care · 28–31 °C (82–88 °F)
  • Expect Honeycomb Pleco to harass Discus at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
  • Keep Discus in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
• Electric Blue Hap⚠️ With caution
  Semi-aggressive · 20 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
  • Different pH ranges (6–7.5 vs 7.8–8.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
  • Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
• Fire Blue Empress Cichlid⚠️ With caution
  Semi-aggressive · 18 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
  • Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
  • Your 280 L tank is below the ~400 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
• Galaxy Pleco⚠️ With caution
  Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
  • Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
• Goldie Pleco⚠️ With caution
  Semi-aggressive · 20 cm · Medium care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
  • Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
• Green Severum⚠️ With caution
  Semi-aggressive · 20 cm · Medium care · 23–29 °C (73–84 °F)
  • Honeycomb Pleco and Green Severum can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
• Guyana Flag Cichlid⚠️ With caution
  Semi-aggressive · 18 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
  • Honeycomb Pleco and Guyana Flag Cichlid can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
• Platinum Acara⚠️ With caution
  Semi-aggressive · 20 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
  • Honeycomb Pleco and Platinum Acara can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
• Severum⚠️ With caution
  Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · Medium care · 23–30 °C (73–86 °F)
  • Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
• Spanner Barb⚠️ With caution
  Semi-aggressive · 18 cm · Medium care · 23–29 °C (73–84 °F)
  • Honeycomb Pleco and Spanner Barb can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
  • Keep Spanner Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
• Spotted Severum⚠️ With caution
  Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · Medium care · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)
  • Honeycomb Pleco and Spotted Severum can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
  • Your 280 L tank is below the ~300 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
• Striped Raphael Catfish⚠️ With caution
  Semi-aggressive · 20 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
  • Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
• Tiger Loach⚠️ With caution
  Semi-aggressive · 20 cm · Medium care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
  • Honeycomb Pleco and Tiger Loach can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
• Alligator Gar⛔ Not recommended
  Aggressive · 250 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
  • Honeycomb Pleco and Alligator Gar are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
  • Alligator Gar may bully the smaller Honeycomb Pleco, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
  • Your 280 L tank is below the ~3785 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
• Clown Knifefish⛔ Not recommended
  Aggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
  • Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Honeycomb Pleco and Clown Knifefish will hold territory and clash.
  • Clown Knifefish may bully the smaller Honeycomb Pleco, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
  • Your 280 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
• Mbu Puffer⛔ Not recommended
  Aggressive · 67 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
  • Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Honeycomb Pleco and Mbu Puffer will hold territory and clash.
  • Mbu Puffer may bully the smaller Honeycomb Pleco, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
  • Your 280 L tank is below the ~757 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
• Ocellaris Peacock Bass⛔ Not recommended
  Aggressive · 70 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
  • Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Honeycomb Pleco and Ocellaris Peacock Bass will hold territory and clash.
  • Ocellaris Peacock Bass may bully the smaller Honeycomb Pleco, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
  • Your 280 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
• Redtail Catfish⛔ Not recommended
  Aggressive · 120 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
  • Honeycomb Pleco and Redtail Catfish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
  • Redtail Catfish may bully the smaller Honeycomb Pleco, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
  • Your 280 L tank is below the ~5700 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
• Spotted Gar⛔ Not recommended
  Aggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
  • Honeycomb Pleco and Spotted Gar are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
  • Spotted Gar may bully the smaller Honeycomb Pleco, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
  • Your 280 L tank is below the ~600 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
• Wels Catfish⛔ Not recommended
  Aggressive · 300 cm · Hard care · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
  • Honeycomb Pleco and Wels Catfish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
  • Wels Catfish may bully the smaller Honeycomb Pleco, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
  • Your 280 L tank is below the ~20000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
• Wolf Cichlid⛔ Not recommended
  Aggressive · 72 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
  • Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Honeycomb Pleco and Wolf Cichlid will hold territory and clash.
  • Wolf Cichlid may bully the smaller Honeycomb Pleco, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
  • Your 280 L tank is below the ~760 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.

Compatibility is computed from each species' care data — a strong starting point, not a guarantee. Individual temperament varies, so always introduce new fish slowly and watch them.