Common Pleco Tank Mates

Common Pleco is peaceful, so its tank mates need choosing with care. Here are the 36 freshwater species that pair well with a common pleco — plus the 197 to avoid — with a live checker you can tune to your own tank.

By The Aquarium DB Team • Updated June 7, 2026 • Full Common Pleco care guide →
Best matches

The best tank mates for a common pleco

  • Spotted Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Semi-aggressive · 30 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Goldie Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 20 cm · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
    Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Striped Raphael Catfish ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 20 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Honeycomb Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 21 cm · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Angelicus Synodontis ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Galaxy Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Mayan Cichlid ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Aggressive · 28 cm · 20–30 °C (68–86 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Pearl Cichlid ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 28 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Flowerhorn Cichlid ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Aggressive · 30 cm · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
    Peaceful + Aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Goldfish ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Peaceful · 30 cm · 18–22 °C (64–72 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Kissing Gourami ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 30 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Peacock Eel ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 30 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Pearlscale Cichlid ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Aggressive · 30 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Peaceful + Aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Silver Cichlid ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 30 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Texas Cichlid ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Aggressive · 33 cm · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    Peaceful + Aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Oscar ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Aggressive · 35 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Peaceful + Aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Yellow-spotted Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Peaceful · 35 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Red Devil Cichlid ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Aggressive · 38 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Peaceful + Aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Royal Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 43 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Bichir ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 45 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Golden Sailfin Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 45 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Sailfin Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Peaceful · 50 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Walking Catfish ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Aggressive · 50 cm · 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)
    Peaceful + Aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Fire Eel ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 100 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
With caution

Common Pleco tank mates that can work with care

  • Adolf's Cory ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Peaceful · 5.5 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Common Pleco may bully the smaller Adolf's Cory, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
  • Agassiz's Corydoras ⚠️ With caution
    Easy care · Peaceful · 6 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Common Pleco may bully the smaller Agassiz's Corydoras, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
  • Alligator Gar ⚠️ With caution
    Hard care · Aggressive · 250 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Alligator Gar may bully the smaller Common Pleco, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
  • Altifrons Geophagus ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Altifrons Geophagus is small enough to tempt Common Pleco; only risk it in a densely planted setup with hiding spots.
  • Amano Shrimp ⚠️ With caution
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    Common Pleco may eat Amano Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
  • Assassin Snail ⚠️ With caution
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Common Pleco may bully the smaller Assassin Snail, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
  • Axelrod's Cory ⚠️ With caution
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Common Pleco may bully the smaller Axelrod's Cory, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
  • Bamboo Shrimp ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Peaceful · 8 cm · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
    Common Pleco may eat Bamboo Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.

+ 99 more “with caution” pairings — see the interactive checker above.

Avoid

Fish to avoid keeping with a common pleco

  • Angelfish ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    Angelfish is bite-sized to a 45 cm common pleco — it will be eaten.
  • Banjo Catfish ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Peaceful · 15 cm · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    Common Pleco (45 cm) is big enough to swallow the 15 cm Banjo Catfish whole.
  • Blue Flash Cichlid ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Size gap is too large (45 vs 15 cm): Common Pleco will treat Blue Flash Cichlid as food.
  • Bumblebee Cichlid ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Aggressive · 15 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Size gap is too large (45 vs 15 cm): Common Pleco will treat Bumblebee Cichlid as food.
  • Clown Barb ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    Clown Barb is bite-sized to a 45 cm common pleco — it will be eaten.
  • Denison Barb ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Peaceful · 15 cm · 18–25 °C (64–77 °F)
    Size gap is too large (45 vs 15 cm): Common Pleco will treat Denison Barb as food.
  • Dolphin Cichlid ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Common Pleco (45 cm) is big enough to swallow the 15 cm Dolphin Cichlid whole.
  • Eureka Red Peacock Cichlid ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Size gap is too large (45 vs 15 cm): Common Pleco will treat Eureka Red Peacock Cichlid as food.

+ 189 more to avoid — the checker above flags every one.

Interactive tool

Check any fish against a common pleco

Dial in your exact tank size and filter by result — the checker scores every species in our database against a common pleco, with the reasoning for each verdict.

Tank-mate checker

Will it live with a Common Pleco?

We compare each fish against your common pleco on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.

  • Bichir✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 45 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, 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.
  • Black Ghost Knifefish✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 45 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °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.
  • Cuban Cichlid✅ Compatible
    Aggressive · 30 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Peaceful + Aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Elephant-nose Knifefish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 35 cm · Hard care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °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.
  • Flowerhorn Cichlid✅ Compatible
    Aggressive · 30 cm · Medium care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
    • Peaceful + Aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Golden Sailfin Pleco✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 45 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, 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.
  • Goldfish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 30 cm · Medium care · 18–22 °C (64–72 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Jaguar Cichlid✅ Compatible
    Aggressive · 55 cm · Hard care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
    • Peaceful + Aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Kissing Gourami✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 30 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Leopard Cactus Pleco✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 30 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, 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.
  • Midas Cichlid✅ Compatible
    Aggressive · 35 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Peaceful + Aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Oscar✅ Compatible
    Aggressive · 35 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Peaceful + Aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Peacock Eel✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 30 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, 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.
  • Pearlscale Cichlid✅ Compatible
    Aggressive · 30 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Peaceful + Aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Red Devil Cichlid✅ Compatible
    Aggressive · 38 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Peaceful + Aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Royal Pleco✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 43 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–28 °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.
  • Sailfin Pleco✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 50 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; 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.
  • Silver Cichlid✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 30 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Spotted Knifefish✅ Compatible
    Aggressive · 45 cm · Hard care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Peaceful + Aggressive, 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 Pleco✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 30 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °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.
  • Texas Cichlid✅ Compatible
    Aggressive · 33 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    • Peaceful + Aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °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.
  • True Parrot Cichlid✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 33 cm · Hard care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Walking Catfish✅ Compatible
    Aggressive · 50 cm · Medium care · 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)
    • Peaceful + Aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–28 °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.
  • Yellow-spotted Pleco✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 35 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; 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.
  • Black Belt Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 35 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Your 380 L tank is below the ~450 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Black Doras Catfish⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 60 cm · Hard care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Your 380 L tank is below the ~500 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Butter Catfish⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 45 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Your 380 L tank is below the ~680 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Clown Loach⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 30 cm · Medium care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
    • Your 380 L tank is below the ~400 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Fahaka Puffer⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 45 cm · Hard care · 24–26 °C (75–79 °F)
    • Your 380 L tank is below the ~450 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Gold Zebra Catfish⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 55 cm · Hard care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    • Your 380 L tank is below the ~500 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Imperial Flower Loach⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 50 cm · Hard care · 15–22 °C (59–72 °F)
    • Your 380 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Lima Shovelnose Catfish⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 50 cm · Hard care · 23–30 °C (73–86 °F)
    • Your 380 L tank is below the ~760 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Lyre Tail Pleco⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 63 cm · Hard care · 21–27 °C (70–81 °F)
    • Your 380 L tank is below the ~1500 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Malawi Trout Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 35 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (6.5–7.5 vs 7.8–8.6); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Your 380 L tank is below the ~600 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Mbu Puffer⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 67 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Your 380 L tank is below the ~757 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Orinoco Sailfin Pleco⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 50 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Your 380 L tank is below the ~450 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Spotted Shovelnose Catfish⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 55 cm · Hard care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Your 380 L tank is below the ~570 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Tatauaia Payara⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 59 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Your 380 L tank is below the ~2000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • True Red Terror Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 35 cm · Hard care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Your 380 L tank is below the ~570 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Yellowjacket Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 35 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Your 380 L tank is below the ~450 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Angelfish⛔ Not recommended
    Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Angelfish is bite-sized to a 45 cm common pleco — it will be eaten.
  • Banjo Catfish⛔ Not recommended
    Peaceful · 15 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    • Common Pleco (45 cm) is big enough to swallow the 15 cm Banjo Catfish whole.
  • Blue Flash Cichlid⛔ Not recommended
    Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Size gap is too large (45 vs 15 cm): Common Pleco will treat Blue Flash Cichlid as food.
  • Bumblebee Cichlid⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 15 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Size gap is too large (45 vs 15 cm): Common Pleco will treat Bumblebee Cichlid as food.
    • pH preferences only just meet (Common Pleco 6.5–7.5 vs Bumblebee Cichlid 7.8–8.6) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
  • Clown Barb⛔ Not recommended
    Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Clown Barb is bite-sized to a 45 cm common pleco — it will be eaten.
    • Keep Clown Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Denison Barb⛔ Not recommended
    Peaceful · 15 cm · Medium care · 18–25 °C (64–77 °F)
    • Size gap is too large (45 vs 15 cm): Common Pleco will treat Denison Barb as food.
    • Keep Denison Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Dolphin Cichlid⛔ Not recommended
    Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Common Pleco (45 cm) is big enough to swallow the 15 cm Dolphin Cichlid whole.
  • Eureka Red Peacock Cichlid⛔ Not recommended
    Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Size gap is too large (45 vs 15 cm): Common Pleco will treat Eureka Red Peacock Cichlid as food.
    • Different pH ranges (6.5–7.5 vs 7.8–8.6); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.

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.

Setting up a common pleco community tank

Give the group a stable, planted 380 L+ tank with a gentle filter, a reliable heater and plenty of cover — broken sight lines and hiding spots let mid-water and bottom dwellers keep out of each other's way. Cycle it fully and stock gradually.

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How to choose

How to choose the right tank mates for a common pleco

As a peaceful species, common pleco is easily bullied — favour other calm, non-nippy fish and steer clear of boisterous or aggressive tank mates. It mostly occupies the bottom of the tank, so it pairs naturally with species that use the other levels.

Common Pleco grows to about 45 cm, so avoid tank mates small enough to be seen as food — as a rule of thumb, skip anything under roughly 23 cm. Match its water, too: aim for 22–28 °C (72–82 °F), pH 6.5–7.5 and 5–25 dGH. Fish needing very different conditions — coldwater species, or hard-water lovers against a soft-water fish — rarely thrive side by side.

Common Pleco doesn't need its own kind to feel secure; think twice before keeping more than one if it is territorial. Whatever you add, introduce new fish slowly, watch for bullying in the first days, and have a backup plan if temperaments clash.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Can a common pleco live with other fish?

Yes — with the right companions. Our checker finds 36 compatible freshwater species for common pleco. Pick calm, similarly-sized fish that share its water needs and add them to a mature, well-planted tank.

What is the best tank mate for a common pleco?

Easy, peaceful, similarly-sized species top the list — for example Spotted Pleco, Goldie Pleco, Striped Raphael Catfish. Use the checker above to match against your own tank size.

What fish should you avoid keeping with a common pleco?

Avoid Angelfish, Banjo Catfish, Blue Flash Cichlid and similar — usually a temperature, size or temperament clash. The full "avoid" list below gives the reason for each.

How big a tank do common pleco tank mates need?

Start from Common Pleco's own minimum and scale up with every addition. The checker above defaults to a 380 L community tank and flags pairings that need more room — drag the slider to match your setup.

← Back to the full Common Pleco care guide