Tank mates for common plecos

Good Compatible tank mates (90)

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

• Angelfish

  15 cm (5.9 in) · 29+ gal

• Betta fish

  6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 5+ gal

• Cherry shrimp

  3 cm (1.2 in) · 5+ gal · groups of 10+

  Common pleco will pick off baby cherry shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.

• Dwarf gourami

  7.5 cm (3 in) · 15+ gal

• Guppy

  5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+

• Neon tetra

  3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+

• Nerite snail

  2.5 cm (1 in) · 5+ gal

• Oscar

  30 cm (11.8 in) · 75+ gal

• Tiger barb

  7 cm (2.8 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 8+

• Zebra danio

  5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Amano shrimp

  4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+

  Common pleco will pick off baby amano shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.

• Assassin snail

  2.5 cm (1 in) · 5+ gal

• Bala shark

  30 cm (11.8 in) · 230+ gal · groups of 5+

• Black skirt tetra

  6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+

• Blood parrot cichlid

  20 cm (7.9 in) · 55+ gal

• Boesemani rainbowfish

  10 cm (3.9 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+

• Cardinal tetra

  4 cm (1.6 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+

• Celestial pearl danio

  2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 8+

• Cherry barb

  5 cm (2 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+

• Chili rasbora

  2 cm (0.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+

• Denison barb

  13 cm (5.1 in) · 75+ gal · groups of 6+

• Dwarf neon rainbowfish

  6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Ember tetra

  2 cm (0.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 8+

• Ghost shrimp

  4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+

  Common pleco will pick off baby ghost shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.

• Glowlight tetra

  4 cm (1.6 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+

• Harlequin rasbora

  4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+

• Honey gourami

  5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal

• Malaysian trumpet snail

  2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal

• Molly

  10 cm (3.9 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 3+

• Mystery snail

  5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal

• Otocinclus

  4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Pearl gourami

  11.5 cm (4.5 in) · 29+ gal

• Platy

  6 cm (2.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 3+

• Pygmy corydoras

  2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+

• Ramshorn snail

  2 cm (0.8 in) · 5+ gal

• Rummy-nose tetra

  5 cm (2 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 10+

• Silver dollar

  15 cm (5.9 in) · 75+ gal · groups of 5+

• Three spot gourami

  12 cm (4.7 in) · 29+ gal

• X-ray tetra

  4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+

• African butterfly fish

  11 cm (4.3 in) · 29+ gal

• Bamboo shrimp

  8 cm (3.1 in) · 20+ gal

  Common pleco will pick off baby bamboo shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.

• Black neon tetra

  4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+

• Black phantom tetra

  4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Bleeding heart tetra

  6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 8+

• Bloodfin tetra

  5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Buenos Aires tetra

  7 cm (2.8 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 8+

• Clown killifish

  3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 6+

• Congo tetra

  8 cm (3.1 in) · 40+ gal · groups of 6+

• Diamond tetra

  6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Emperor tetra

  5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Endler's livebearer

  3 cm (1.2 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+

• Forktail blue-eye

  5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+

• Gardneri killifish

  6 cm (2.4 in) · 10+ gal

• Giant danio

  10 cm (3.9 in) · 55+ gal · groups of 6+

• Glass catfish

  7 cm (2.8 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+

• Golden wonder killifish

  9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal

• Head and tail light tetra

  4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Kissing gourami

  20 cm (7.9 in) · 75+ gal

• Kubotai rasbora

  2 cm (0.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 10+

• Lambchop rasbora

  3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+

• Lemon tetra

  4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+

• Marbled hatchetfish

  3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+

• Odessa barb

  6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Penguin tetra

  5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Rabbit snail

  8 cm (3.1 in) · 29+ gal

• Red rainbowfish

  12 cm (4.7 in) · 40+ gal · groups of 6+

• Rosy loach

  2.5 cm (1 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+

• Rosy tetra

  4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Scissortail rasbora

  12 cm (4.7 in) · 55+ gal · groups of 6+

• Serpae tetra

  4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 10+

• Severum

  20 cm (7.9 in) · 55+ gal

• Sparkling gourami

  3.8 cm (1.5 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 2+

• Swordtail

  12 cm (4.7 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 4+

• Thai micro crab

  1 cm (0.4 in) · 5+ gal · groups of 5+

• Threadfin rainbowfish

  4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Tinfoil barb

  30 cm (11.8 in) · 200+ gal · groups of 6+

• Turquoise rainbowfish

  11 cm (4.3 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+

• Upside-down catfish

  9.5 cm (3.7 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 4+

• Vampire shrimp

  10 cm (3.9 in) · 20+ gal

  Common pleco will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.

• Black ruby barb

  6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Checkerboard barb

  5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Dwarf rasbora

  2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+

• Flame tetra

  3 cm (1.2 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+

• Green neon tetra

  2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+

• Keyhole cichlid

  10 cm (3.9 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 2+

• Least killifish

  2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 6+

• Moonlight gourami

  14 cm (5.5 in) · 29+ gal

• Pearl danio

  6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Silvertip tetra

  4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+

• Thick-lipped gourami

  9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal

Caution Possible, with care (48)

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

• Bristlenose pleco · 20+ gal
  • Common pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bristlenose plecos, which use the same area.
  • Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase common plecos, which use the same area.
• Bronze corydoras · 20+ gal
  • Common pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bronze corydoras, which use the same area.
• Fancy goldfish · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–23°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Panda corydoras · 15+ gal
  • Common pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase panda corydoras, which use the same area.
• African dwarf frog · 10+ gal
  • Common pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase African dwarf frogs, which use the same area.
• Clown loach · 180+ gal
  • Common pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase clown loaches, which use the same area.
• Discus · 75+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 28–28°C).
• Dojo loach · 75+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–23°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Common pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase dojo loaches, which use the same area.
• Electric blue acara · 40+ gal
  • Common 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 common plecos, which use the same area.
• Electric yellow cichlid · 55+ gal
  • Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. Common 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
  • Common 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 common plecos, which use the same area.
• German blue ram · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).
  • Common pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase German blue rams, which use the same area.
  • German blue ram defends its patch of the bottom and may chase common plecos, which use the same area.
• Hillstream loach · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Common pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase hillstream loaches, which use the same area.
• Julii corydoras · 20+ gal
  • Common pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase julii corydoras, which use the same area.
• Kribensis · 29+ gal
  • Common 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 common plecos, which use the same area.
• Kuhli loach · 20+ gal
  • Common pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase kuhli loaches, which use the same area.
• Peacock cichlid · 75+ gal
  • Common 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 common plecos, which use the same area.
  • Peacock cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. Common 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
  • Common pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase peppered corydoras, which use the same area.
• Pictus catfish · 75+ gal
  • Common pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase pictus catfish, which use the same area.
• Rainbow shark · 75+ gal
  • Common 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 common plecos, which use the same area.
• Red-tail shark · 75+ gal
  • Common 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 common plecos, which use the same area.
• Rosy barb · 29+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Senegal bichir · 90+ gal
  • Common pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase Senegal bichirs, which use the same area.
• Siamese algae eater · 55+ gal
  • Common pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase siamese algae eaters, which use the same area.
• Sterbai corydoras · 20+ gal
  • Common pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase sterbai corydoras, which use the same area.
• Yoyo loach · 75+ gal
  • Common pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase yoyo loaches, which use the same area.
• Agassiz's dwarf cichlid · 20+ gal
  • Common 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 common plecos, which use the same area.
• Black ghost knifefish · 125+ gal
  • Common pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase black ghost knifefish, which use the same area.
• Bolivian ram · 29+ gal
  • Common 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 common plecos, which use the same area.
• Bumblebee catfish · 20+ gal
  • Common pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bumblebee catfish, which use the same area.
• Clown pleco · 20+ gal
  • Common pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase clown plecos, which use the same area.
• Cockatoo cichlid · 20+ gal
  • Common 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 common plecos, which use the same area.
• Crystal red shrimp · 10+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
• Dwarf chain loach · 29+ gal
  • Common pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase dwarf chain loaches, which use the same area.
• Dwarf orange crayfish · 10+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Emerald green corydoras · 55+ gal
  • Common pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase emerald green corydoras, which use the same area.
• Gold barb · 29+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Panda garra · 29+ gal
  • Common pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase panda garras, which use the same area.
• Paradise fish · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Peacock gudgeon · 15+ gal
  • Common pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase peacock gudgeons, which use the same area.
• Ropefish · 75+ gal
  • Common pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase ropefish, which use the same area.
• Rubber lip pleco · 29+ gal
  • Common 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 common plecos, which use the same area.
• Scarlet badis · 10+ gal
  • Common pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase scarlet badis, which use the same area.
• Shell dweller cichlid · 10+ gal
  • Common 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 common plecos, which use the same area.
  • Shell dweller cichlid is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. Common 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
  • Common pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase zebra loaches, which use the same area.
• Zebra pleco · 20+ gal
  • Common 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 common plecos, which use the same area.
• Glowlight danio · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
• Variatus platy · 15+ gal
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.

Avoid Bad tank mates (11)

• Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Common pleco 23–28°C (73–82°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
• Chinese algae eater: Chinese algae eater is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful common plecos.
• Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful common plecos.
• Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful common plecos.
• Pea puffer: Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful common 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 common plecos.
• White cloud mountain minnow: They need different temperatures: Common pleco 23–28°C (73–82°F), white cloud mountain minnow 16–22°C (61–72°F).
• Demasoni cichlid: Demasoni cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful common 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. Common plecos don't belong in that setup.
• Green terror: Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful common plecos.
• Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful common plecos.