Tank mates for bristlenose plecos

We checked bristlenose plecos against all 149 other species in our database for water temperature, pH, size, fin nipping, predation and aggression.

Good tank mates for bristlenose plecos include betta fish, cherry shrimp, nerite snail, guppy, dwarf gourami and neon tetra. Avoid chinese algae eater, convict cichlid and discus: chinese algae eater is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bristlenose plecos.

Bristlenose plecos: 22–26°C (72–79°F), pH 6–7.5, adult size 12 cm (4.7 in), minimum tank 20 gallons (76 L). Full bristlenose pleco care guide.

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Good Compatible tank mates (89)

Shared water conditions and no known conflict. Still add fish slowly and watch them.

Caution Possible, with care (49)

These can work in the right setup, but there is a real risk. Read the reason first.

Bronze corydoras · 20+ gal
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bronze corydoras, which use the same area.
Common goldfish · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 22–22°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
Common pleco · 150+ gal
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase common plecos, which use the same area.
- Common pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bristlenose plecos, which use the same area.
Fancy goldfish · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 22–23°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
Oscar · 75+ gal
- Oscar may eat bristlenose plecos, especially young or small ones.
- Oscar is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller bristlenose plecos.
Panda corydoras · 15+ gal
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase panda corydoras, which use the same area.
African dwarf frog · 10+ gal
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase African dwarf frogs, which use the same area.
Boesemani rainbowfish · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–26°C).
Clown loach · 180+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase clown loaches, which use the same area.
Dojo loach · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 22–23°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase dojo loaches, which use the same area.
Electric blue acara · 40+ gal
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase electric blue acaras, which use the same area.
- Electric blue acara defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bristlenose plecos, which use the same area.
Electric yellow cichlid · 55+ gal
- Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. Bristlenose plecos are sometimes kept with them as a clean-up fish, but the hard, alkaline water is at the edge of their range and they may be chased.
Firemouth cichlid · 29+ gal
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase firemouth cichlids, which use the same area.
- Firemouth cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bristlenose plecos, which use the same area.
Hillstream loach · 20+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase hillstream loaches, which use the same area.
Julii corydoras · 20+ gal
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase julii corydoras, which use the same area.
Kribensis · 29+ gal
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase kribensis, which use the same area.
- Kribensis defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bristlenose plecos, which use the same area.
Kuhli loach · 20+ gal
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase kuhli loaches, which use the same area.
Peacock cichlid · 75+ gal
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase peacock cichlids, which use the same area.
- Peacock cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bristlenose plecos, which use the same area.
- Peacock cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. Bristlenose plecos are sometimes kept with them as a clean-up fish, but the hard, alkaline water is at the edge of their range and they may be chased.
Peppered corydoras · 20+ gal
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase peppered corydoras, which use the same area.
Pictus catfish · 75+ gal
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase pictus catfish, which use the same area.
Rainbow shark · 75+ gal
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase rainbow sharks, which use the same area.
- Rainbow shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bristlenose plecos, which use the same area.
Red-tail shark · 75+ gal
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase red-tail sharks, which use the same area.
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bristlenose plecos, which use the same area.
Rosy barb · 29+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
Senegal bichir · 90+ gal
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase Senegal bichirs, which use the same area.
- Senegal bichir is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller bristlenose plecos.
Siamese algae eater · 55+ gal
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase siamese algae eaters, which use the same area.
Sterbai corydoras · 20+ gal
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase sterbai corydoras, which use the same area.
White cloud mountain minnow · 15+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 22–22°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
Yoyo loach · 75+ gal
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase yoyo loaches, which use the same area.
Agassiz's dwarf cichlid · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase Agassiz's dwarf cichlids, which use the same area.
- Agassiz's dwarf cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bristlenose plecos, which use the same area.
Black ghost knifefish · 125+ gal
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase black ghost knifefish, which use the same area.
Bolivian ram · 29+ gal
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase Bolivian rams, which use the same area.
- Bolivian ram defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bristlenose plecos, which use the same area.
Bumblebee catfish · 20+ gal
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bumblebee catfish, which use the same area.
Clown pleco · 20+ gal
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase clown plecos, which use the same area.
Cockatoo cichlid · 20+ gal
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase cockatoo cichlids, which use the same area.
- Cockatoo cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bristlenose plecos, which use the same area.
Dwarf chain loach · 29+ gal
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase dwarf chain loaches, which use the same area.
Dwarf orange crayfish · 10+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
Emerald green corydoras · 55+ gal
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase emerald green corydoras, which use the same area.
Gold barb · 29+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
Panda garra · 29+ gal
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase panda garras, which use the same area.
Paradise fish · 20+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
Peacock gudgeon · 15+ gal
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase peacock gudgeons, which use the same area.
Rabbit snail · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
Ropefish · 75+ gal
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase ropefish, which use the same area.
Rubber lip pleco · 29+ gal
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase rubber lip plecos, which use the same area.
- Rubber lip pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bristlenose plecos, which use the same area.
Scarlet badis · 10+ gal
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase scarlet badis, which use the same area.
Shell dweller cichlid · 10+ gal
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase shell dweller cichlids, which use the same area.
- Shell dweller cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bristlenose plecos, which use the same area.
- Shell dweller cichlid is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. Bristlenose plecos are sometimes kept with them as a clean-up fish, but the hard, alkaline water is at the edge of their range and they may be chased.
Zebra loach · 29+ gal
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase zebra loaches, which use the same area.
Zebra pleco · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–26°C).
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase zebra plecos, which use the same area.
- Zebra pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bristlenose plecos, which use the same area.
Moonlight gourami · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).

Avoid Bad tank mates (11)

Chinese algae eater: Chinese algae eater is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bristlenose plecos.
Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bristlenose plecos.
Discus: They need different temperatures: Bristlenose pleco 22–26°C (72–79°F), discus 28–30°C (82–86°F).
German blue ram: They need different temperatures: Bristlenose pleco 22–26°C (72–79°F), german blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F).
Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bristlenose plecos.
Pea puffer: Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bristlenose plecos. Pea puffer is best kept in a species-only tank.
Red zebra cichlid: Red zebra cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bristlenose plecos.
Demasoni cichlid: Demasoni cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bristlenose plecos.
Frontosa: Frontosa is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 8–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Bristlenose plecos don't belong in that setup.
Green terror: Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bristlenose plecos.
Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bristlenose plecos.

Frequently asked questions

What fish can live with bristlenose plecos?

Good tank mates for bristlenose plecos include betta fish, cherry shrimp, nerite snail, guppy, dwarf gourami and neon tetra. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat bristlenose plecos.

Can bristlenose plecos live with angelfish?

Yes. They share similar water needs (24–26°C (75–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.

Can bristlenose plecos live with bettas?

Yes. They share similar water needs (24–26°C (75–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.

Can bristlenose plecos live with bronze corydoras?

Sometimes, with care. Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bronze corydoras, which use the same area.

Can bristlenose plecos live with cherry shrimp?

Yes. They share similar water needs (22–26°C (72–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.

How we decide: we compare each pair's comfortable temperature, pH and hardness ranges, adult sizes, mouth size (who can eat whom), fin nipping, aggression and territory. Read the full method. Data last reviewed 2026-10-13.

Good Compatible tank mates (89)

Angelfish

Betta fish

Cherry shrimp

Dwarf gourami

Guppy

Neon tetra

Nerite snail

Tiger barb

Zebra danio

Amano shrimp

Assassin snail

Bala shark

Black skirt tetra

Blood parrot cichlid

Cardinal tetra

Celestial pearl danio

Cherry barb

Chili rasbora

Denison barb

Dwarf neon rainbowfish

Ember tetra

Ghost shrimp

Glowlight tetra

Harlequin rasbora

Honey gourami

Malaysian trumpet snail

Molly

Mystery snail

Otocinclus

Pearl gourami

Platy

Pygmy corydoras

Ramshorn snail

Rummy-nose tetra

Silver dollar

Three spot gourami

X-ray tetra

African butterfly fish

Bamboo shrimp

Black neon tetra

Black phantom tetra

Bleeding heart tetra

Bloodfin tetra

Buenos Aires tetra

Clown killifish

Congo tetra

Crystal red shrimp

Diamond tetra

Emperor tetra

Endler's livebearer

Forktail blue-eye

Gardneri killifish

Giant danio

Glass catfish

Golden wonder killifish

Head and tail light tetra

Kissing gourami

Kubotai rasbora

Lambchop rasbora

Lemon tetra

Marbled hatchetfish

Odessa barb

Penguin tetra

Red rainbowfish

Rosy loach

Rosy tetra

Scissortail rasbora

Serpae tetra

Severum

Sparkling gourami

Swordtail

Thai micro crab

Threadfin rainbowfish

Tinfoil barb

Turquoise rainbowfish

Upside-down catfish

Vampire shrimp

Black ruby barb

Checkerboard barb