Sailfin Pleco Tank Mates
Sailfin Pleco is peaceful, so its tank mates need choosing with care. Here are the 291 freshwater species that pair well with a sailfin pleco — plus the 0 to avoid — with a live checker you can tune to your own tank.
The best tank mates for a sailfin pleco
- Ember Tetra ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Neon Green Rasbora ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Ramshorn Snail ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Red Lip Nerite Snail ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Dawn Tetra ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 2.5 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Nerite Snail ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 2.5 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.
- Assassin Snail ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 3 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.
- Cherry Shrimp ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Endler's Livebearer ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 3 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.
- Glowlight Danio ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Gold Ring Danio ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 3 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.
- Malaysian Trumpet Snail ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 21–27 °C (70–81 °F)Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Neon Tetra ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Tail-spot Corydoras ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 3 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.
- Trinidad Guppy ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 19–24 °C (66–75 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Pygmy Corydoras ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 3.2 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Glowlight Rasbora ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 3.5 cm · 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.
- Blue Danio ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 21–26 °C (70–79 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Emperor Tetra ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Flame Tetra ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 4 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.
- Ghost Shrimp ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Glowlight Tetra ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 4 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.
- Golden Dwarf Barb ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Phoenix Tetra ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
Sailfin Pleco tank mates that can work with care
- Afra Cichlid ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)pH preferences only just meet (Sailfin Pleco 6.5–7.5 vs Afra Cichlid 7.8–8.6) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Alligator Gar ⚠️ With cautionHard care · Aggressive · 250 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)Alligator Gar may bully the smaller Sailfin Pleco, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Auratus Cichlid ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Aggressive · 11 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)Different pH ranges (6.5–7.5 vs 7.6–8.8); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Black Belt Cichlid ⚠️ With cautionHard care · Aggressive · 35 cm · 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 cautionHard care · Peaceful · 60 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)Your 380 L tank is below the ~500 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Blackthroat Cichlid ⚠️ With cautionHard care · Aggressive · 25 cm · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)Your 380 L tank is below the ~400 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Brichardi Cichlid ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 9 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)pH preferences only just meet (Sailfin Pleco 6.5–7.5 vs Brichardi Cichlid 7.8–9) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Bumblebee Cichlid ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Aggressive · 15 cm · 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.
+ 41 more “with caution” pairings — see the interactive checker above.
Fish to avoid keeping with a sailfin pleco
No outright no-gos among the species in our database yet — but always avoid fish much larger, much more aggressive, or needing very different water.
Check any fish against a sailfin pleco
Dial in your exact tank size and filter by result — the checker scores every species in our database against a sailfin pleco, with the reasoning for each verdict.
Tank-mate checker
Will it live with a Sailfin Pleco?
We compare each fish against your sailfin pleco on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.
- Bichir✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 45 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °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.
- Black Ghost Knifefish✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 45 cm · Hard 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.
- Common Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 45 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.
- Cuban Cichlid✅ CompatibleAggressive · 30 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.
- Elephant-nose Knifefish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 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✅ CompatibleAggressive · 30 cm · Medium care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 25–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Golden Sailfin Pleco✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 45 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.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Goldfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 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✅ CompatibleAggressive · 55 cm · Hard care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
- Peaceful + Aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 25–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Kissing Gourami✅ CompatibleSemi-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.
- Leopard Cactus Pleco✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 30 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °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.
- Midas Cichlid✅ CompatibleAggressive · 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✅ CompatibleAggressive · 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✅ CompatibleSemi-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✅ CompatibleAggressive · 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✅ CompatibleAggressive · 38 cm · Medium 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.
- Royal Pleco✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 43 cm · Medium 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.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Silver Cichlid✅ CompatibleSemi-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✅ CompatibleAggressive · 45 cm · Hard care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °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.
- Spotted Pleco✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 30 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-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.
- Texas Cichlid✅ CompatibleAggressive · 33 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °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.
- True Parrot Cichlid✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 33 cm · Hard 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.
- Walking Catfish✅ CompatibleAggressive · 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✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 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.
- Black Belt Cichlid⚠️ With cautionAggressive · 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 cautionPeaceful · 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 cautionSemi-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.
- Fahaka Puffer⚠️ With cautionAggressive · 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.
- Giant Gourami⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 70 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Your 380 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Gold Zebra Catfish⚠️ With cautionAggressive · 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 cautionSemi-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 cautionSemi-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 cautionSemi-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 cautionAggressive · 35 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- pH preferences only just meet (Sailfin Pleco 6.5–7.5 vs Malawi Trout Cichlid 7.8–8.6) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Your 380 L tank is below the ~600 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Mbu Puffer⚠️ With cautionAggressive · 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.
- Nile Bichir⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 70 cm · Medium care · 25–28 °C (77–82 °F)
- Your 380 L tank is below the ~450 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Ocellaris Peacock Bass⚠️ With cautionAggressive · 70 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Your 380 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Orinoco Sailfin Pleco⚠️ With cautionSemi-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 cautionSemi-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 cautionAggressive · 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.
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 sailfin 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 the right tank mates for a sailfin pleco
As a peaceful species, sailfin 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.
Sailfin Pleco grows to about 50 cm, so avoid tank mates small enough to be seen as food — as a rule of thumb, skip anything under roughly 25 cm. Match its water, too: aim for 22–28 °C (72–82 °F), pH 6.5–7.5 and 2–15 dGH. Fish needing very different conditions — coldwater species, or hard-water lovers against a soft-water fish — rarely thrive side by side.
Sailfin 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.
Frequently asked questions
Can a sailfin pleco live with other fish?
Yes — with the right companions. Our checker finds 291 compatible freshwater species for sailfin 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 sailfin pleco?
Easy, peaceful, similarly-sized species top the list — for example Ember Tetra, Neon Green Rasbora, Ramshorn Snail. Use the checker above to match against your own tank size.
What fish should you avoid keeping with a sailfin pleco?
No outright no-gos in our current database, but always avoid fish that are much larger, much more aggressive, or that need very different water.
How big a tank do sailfin pleco tank mates need?
Start from Sailfin 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.