Yellow-spotted Pleco Tank Mates

Yellow-spotted Pleco is peaceful, so its tank mates need choosing with care. Here are the 271 freshwater species that pair well with a yellow-spotted pleco — plus the 4 to avoid — with a live checker you can tune to your own tank.

By The Aquarium DB Team • Updated June 8, 2026 • Full Yellow-spotted Pleco care guide →

Best matches

The best tank mates for a yellow-spotted pleco

Ember Tetra ✅ Compatible

Easy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)

Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
Neon Green Rasbora ✅ Compatible

Easy 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 ✅ Compatible

Easy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)

Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
Red Lip Nerite Snail ✅ Compatible

Easy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)

Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
Dawn Tetra ✅ Compatible

Easy 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.
Nerite Snail ✅ Compatible

Easy care · Peaceful · 2.5 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)

Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
Assassin Snail ✅ Compatible

Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 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.
Cherry Shrimp ✅ Compatible

Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)

Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
Endler's Livebearer ✅ Compatible

Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)

Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
Glowlight Danio ✅ Compatible

Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)

Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
Gold Ring Danio ✅ Compatible

Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)

Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
Malaysian Trumpet Snail ✅ Compatible

Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 21–27 °C (70–81 °F)

Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
Neon Tetra ✅ Compatible

Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)

Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
Tail-spot Corydoras ✅ Compatible

Easy 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.
Trinidad Guppy ✅ Compatible

Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 19–24 °C (66–75 °F)

Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
Pygmy Corydoras ✅ Compatible

Easy care · Peaceful · 3.2 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)

Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
Glowlight Rasbora ✅ Compatible

Easy care · Peaceful · 3.5 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)

Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
Blue Danio ✅ Compatible

Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 21–26 °C (70–79 °F)

Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
Emperor Tetra ✅ Compatible

Easy 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 ✅ Compatible

Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)

Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
Ghost Shrimp ✅ Compatible

Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)

Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
Glowlight Tetra ✅ Compatible

Easy care · Peaceful · 4 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.
Golden Dwarf Barb ✅ Compatible

Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)

Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
Phoenix Tetra ✅ Compatible

Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)

Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.

With caution

Yellow-spotted Pleco tank mates that can work with care

Afra Cichlid ⚠️ With caution

Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)

pH preferences only just meet (Yellow-spotted Pleco 6–7.5 vs Afra Cichlid 7.8–8.6) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
Alligator Gar ⚠️ With caution

Hard care · Aggressive · 250 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)

Alligator Gar may bully the smaller Yellow-spotted 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)

Your 280 L tank is below the ~378 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
Auratus Cichlid ⚠️ With caution

Medium care · Aggressive · 11 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)

Different pH ranges (6–7.5 vs 7.6–8.8); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
Bichir ⚠️ With caution

Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 45 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)

Your 280 L tank is below the ~300 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
Black Belt Cichlid ⚠️ With caution

Hard care · Aggressive · 35 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)

Your 280 L tank is below the ~450 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
Black Doras Catfish ⚠️ With caution

Hard care · Peaceful · 60 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)

Your 280 L tank is below the ~500 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
Black Ghost Knifefish ⚠️ With caution

Hard care · Semi-aggressive · 45 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)

Your 280 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.

+ 57 more “with caution” pairings — see the interactive checker above.

Avoid

Fish to avoid keeping with a yellow-spotted pleco

Imperial Flower Loach ⛔ Avoid

Hard care · Semi-aggressive · 50 cm · 15–22 °C (59–72 °F)

Temperature needs don't overlap (Yellow-spotted Pleco 24–27 °C vs Imperial Flower Loach 15–22 °C).
Goldfish ⛔ Avoid

Medium care · Peaceful · 30 cm · 18–22 °C (64–72 °F)

Temperature needs don't overlap (Yellow-spotted Pleco 24–27 °C vs Goldfish 18–22 °C).
Discus ⛔ Avoid

Hard care · Peaceful · 20 cm · 28–31 °C (82–88 °F)

Temperature needs don't overlap (Yellow-spotted Pleco 24–27 °C vs Discus 28–31 °C).
Panda Loach ⛔ Avoid

Hard care · Peaceful · 6 cm · 18–23 °C (64–73 °F)

Temperature needs don't overlap (Yellow-spotted Pleco 24–27 °C vs Panda Loach 18–23 °C).

Interactive tool

Check any fish against a yellow-spotted pleco

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

Tank-mate checker

Will it live with a Yellow-spotted Pleco?

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

Your tank: 280 L (~74 gal)

Angelicus Synodontis✅ Compatible
Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · Medium care · 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.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
Black Collared Catfish✅ Compatible
Semi-aggressive · 27 cm · Hard care · 23–25 °C (73–77 °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.
Blood Parrot Cichlid✅ Compatible
Semi-aggressive · 20 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.
Cuban Cichlid✅ Compatible
Aggressive · 30 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
Elephant-nose Knifefish✅ Compatible
Peaceful · 35 cm · Hard care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °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.
Galaxy Pleco✅ Compatible
Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °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.
Gold Nugget Pleco✅ Compatible
Semi-aggressive · 28 cm · Hard care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °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.
Goldie Pleco✅ Compatible
Semi-aggressive · 20 cm · Medium care · 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.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
Green Severum✅ Compatible
Semi-aggressive · 20 cm · Medium care · 23–29 °C (73–84 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
Honeycomb Pleco✅ Compatible
Semi-aggressive · 21 cm · Medium care · 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.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
Jack Dempsey✅ Compatible
Aggressive · 25 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.
Kissing Gourami✅ 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.
Mango Pleco✅ Compatible
Semi-aggressive · 28 cm · Hard care · 25–32 °C (77–90 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 25–27 °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.
Oscar✅ Compatible
Aggressive · 35 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
Peacock Eel✅ Compatible
Semi-aggressive · 30 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °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.
Pearl Cichlid✅ Compatible
Semi-aggressive · 28 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °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.
Pearlscale Cichlid✅ Compatible
Aggressive · 30 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Peaceful + Aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
Red Devil Cichlid✅ Compatible
Aggressive · 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.
Ringtail Pike Cichlid✅ Compatible
Aggressive · 28 cm · Hard care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 25–27 °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.
Severum✅ Compatible
Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · Medium care · 23–30 °C (73–86 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
Silver Cichlid✅ Compatible
Semi-aggressive · 30 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
Spotted Knifefish✅ Compatible
Aggressive · 45 cm · Hard care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Peaceful + Aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °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✅ Compatible
Semi-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 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.
Weather Loach✅ Compatible
Peaceful · 25 cm · Easy care · 5–24 °C (41–75 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–24 °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.
Bichir⚠️ With caution
Semi-aggressive · 45 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Your 280 L tank is below the ~300 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
Black Belt Cichlid⚠️ With caution
Aggressive · 35 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Your 280 L tank is below the ~450 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
Black Ghost Knifefish⚠️ With caution
Semi-aggressive · 45 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Your 280 L tank is below the ~380 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 280 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 280 L tank is below the ~400 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
Flowerhorn Cichlid⚠️ With caution
Aggressive · 30 cm · Medium care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
- Your 280 L tank is below the ~340 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
Leopard Cactus Pleco⚠️ With caution
Semi-aggressive · 30 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Your 280 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
Malawi Trout Cichlid⚠️ With caution
Aggressive · 35 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- pH preferences only just meet (Yellow-spotted Pleco 6–7.5 vs Malawi Trout Cichlid 7.8–8.6) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Your 280 L tank is below the ~600 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
Mayan Cichlid⚠️ With caution
Aggressive · 28 cm · Medium care · 20–30 °C (68–86 °F)
- Your 280 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
Midas Cichlid⚠️ With caution
Aggressive · 35 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Your 280 L tank is below the ~300 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
Royal Pleco⚠️ With caution
Semi-aggressive · 43 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Your 280 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
Sunshine Pleco⚠️ With caution
Semi-aggressive · 30 cm · Hard care · 23–29 °C (73–84 °F)
- Your 280 L tank is below the ~473 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
Texas Cichlid⚠️ With caution
Aggressive · 33 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Your 280 L tank is below the ~300 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
True Parrot Cichlid⚠️ With caution
Semi-aggressive · 33 cm · Hard care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Your 280 L tank is below the ~380 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 280 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 280 L tank is below the ~450 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
Discus⛔ Not recommended
Peaceful · 20 cm · Hard care · 28–31 °C (82–88 °F)
- Temperature needs don't overlap (Yellow-spotted Pleco 24–27 °C vs Discus 28–31 °C).
- Keep Discus in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
Goldfish⛔ Not recommended
Peaceful · 30 cm · Medium care · 18–22 °C (64–72 °F)
- Temperature needs don't overlap (Yellow-spotted Pleco 24–27 °C vs Goldfish 18–22 °C).
Imperial Flower Loach⛔ Not recommended
Semi-aggressive · 50 cm · Hard care · 15–22 °C (59–72 °F)
- Temperature needs don't overlap (Yellow-spotted Pleco 24–27 °C vs Imperial Flower Loach 15–22 °C).
- Your 280 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
Panda Loach⛔ Not recommended
Peaceful · 6 cm · Hard care · 18–23 °C (64–73 °F)
- Temperature needs don't overlap (Yellow-spotted Pleco 24–27 °C vs Panda Loach 18–23 °C).

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 yellow-spotted pleco community tank

Give the group a stable, planted 280 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 yellow-spotted pleco

As a peaceful species, yellow-spotted 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.

Yellow-spotted Pleco grows to about 35 cm, so avoid tank mates small enough to be seen as food — as a rule of thumb, skip anything under roughly 18 cm. Match its water, too: aim for 24–27 °C (75–81 °F), pH 6–7.5 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.

Yellow-spotted 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 yellow-spotted pleco live with other fish?

Yes — with the right companions. Our checker finds 271 compatible freshwater species for yellow-spotted 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 yellow-spotted 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 yellow-spotted pleco?

Avoid Imperial Flower Loach, Goldfish, Discus and similar — usually a temperature, size or temperament clash. The full "avoid" list below gives the reason for each.

How big a tank do yellow-spotted pleco tank mates need?

Start from Yellow-spotted Pleco's own minimum and scale up with every addition. The checker above defaults to a 280 L community tank and flags pairings that need more room — drag the slider to match your setup.

← Back to the full Yellow-spotted Pleco care guide