Tank mates for rubber lip plecos
We checked rubber lip plecos against all 149 other species in our database for water temperature, pH, size, fin nipping, predation and aggression.
Good tank mates for rubber lip plecos include cherry shrimp, nerite snail, guppy, neon tetra, zebra danio and tiger barb. Avoid boesemani rainbowfish, chinese algae eater and convict cichlid: they need different temperatures: Rubber lip pleco 21–25°C (70–77°F), boesemani rainbowfish 26–29°C (79–84°F).
Rubber lip plecos: 21–25°C (70–77°F), pH 6.5–7.5, adult size 14 cm (5.5 in), minimum tank 29 gallons (110 L). Full rubber lip pleco care guide.
Good Compatible tank mates (67)
Shared water conditions and no known conflict. Still add fish slowly and watch them.
Cherry shrimp
3 cm (1.2 in) · 5+ gal · groups of 10+
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
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+
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+
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+
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
Mystery snail
5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal
Otocinclus
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
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
Rosy barb
9 cm (3.5 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+
Bamboo shrimp
8 cm (3.1 in) · 20+ gal
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+
Crystal red shrimp
3 cm (1.2 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+
Dwarf orange crayfish
4 cm (1.6 in) · 10+ gal
Emperor tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
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+
Gold barb
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+
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+
Odessa barb
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Paradise fish
8 cm (3.1 in) · 20+ gal
Penguin tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Rosy loach
2.5 cm (1 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
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+
Swordtail
12 cm (4.7 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 4+
Thai micro crab
1 cm (0.4 in) · 5+ gal · groups of 5+
Tinfoil barb
30 cm (11.8 in) · 200+ gal · groups of 6+
Turquoise rainbowfish
11 cm (4.3 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+
Black ruby barb
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Checkerboard barb
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Flame tetra
3 cm (1.2 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Glowlight danio
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Keyhole cichlid
10 cm (3.9 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 2+
Least killifish
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 6+
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
Variatus platy
6 cm (2.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 3+
Caution Possible, with care (69)
These can work in the right setup, but there is a real risk. Read the reason first.
- Angelfish · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Betta fish · 5+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Bristlenose pleco · 20+ gal
- Rubber lip 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 rubber lip plecos, which use the same area.
- Bronze corydoras · 20+ gal
- Rubber lip 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 21–22°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Common pleco · 150+ gal
- Rubber lip 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 rubber lip plecos, which use the same area.
- Dwarf gourami · 15+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Fancy goldfish · 20+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Oscar · 75+ gal
- Oscar is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller rubber lip plecos.
- Panda corydoras · 15+ gal
- Rubber lip pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase panda corydoras, which use the same area.
- African dwarf frog · 10+ gal
- Rubber lip pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase African dwarf frogs, which use the same area.
- Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Clown loach · 180+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–25°C).
- Rubber lip pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase clown loaches, which use the same area.
- Dojo loach · 75+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Rubber lip pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase dojo loaches, which use the same area.
- Electric blue acara · 40+ gal
- Rubber lip 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 rubber lip plecos, which use the same area.
- Electric yellow cichlid · 55+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. Rubber lip 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
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Rubber lip 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 rubber lip plecos, which use the same area.
- Glowlight tetra · 15+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Hillstream loach · 20+ gal
- Rubber lip pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase hillstream loaches, which use the same area.
- Julii corydoras · 20+ gal
- Rubber lip pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase julii corydoras, which use the same area.
- Kribensis · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Rubber lip 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 rubber lip plecos, which use the same area.
- Kuhli loach · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Rubber lip pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase kuhli loaches, which use the same area.
- Molly · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Peacock cichlid · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Rubber lip 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 rubber lip plecos, which use the same area.
- Peacock cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. Rubber lip 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.
- Pearl gourami · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Peppered corydoras · 20+ gal
- Rubber lip pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase peppered corydoras, which use the same area.
- Pictus catfish · 75+ gal
- Rubber lip pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase pictus catfish, which use the same area.
- Rainbow shark · 75+ gal
- Rubber lip 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 rubber lip plecos, which use the same area.
- Red-tail shark · 75+ gal
- Rubber lip 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 rubber lip plecos, which use the same area.
- Rummy-nose tetra · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Senegal bichir · 90+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Rubber lip 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 rubber lip plecos.
- Siamese algae eater · 55+ gal
- Rubber lip pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase siamese algae eaters, which use the same area.
- Silver dollar · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Sterbai corydoras · 20+ gal
- Rubber lip pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase sterbai corydoras, which use the same area.
- Three spot gourami · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- White cloud mountain minnow · 15+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 21–22°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- X-ray tetra · 15+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Yoyo loach · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Rubber lip pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase yoyo loaches, which use the same area.
- African butterfly fish · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Agassiz's dwarf cichlid · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–25°C).
- Rubber lip 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 rubber lip plecos, which use the same area.
- Black ghost knifefish · 125+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Rubber lip pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase black ghost knifefish, which use the same area.
- Bolivian ram · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Rubber lip 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 rubber lip plecos, which use the same area.
- Bumblebee catfish · 20+ gal
- Rubber lip pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bumblebee catfish, which use the same area.
- Clown pleco · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Rubber lip pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase clown plecos, which use the same area.
- Cockatoo cichlid · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Rubber lip 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 rubber lip plecos, which use the same area.
- Diamond tetra · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Dwarf chain loach · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Rubber lip pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase dwarf chain loaches, which use the same area.
- Emerald green corydoras · 55+ gal
- Rubber lip pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase emerald green corydoras, which use the same area.
- Endler's livebearer · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Forktail blue-eye · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Kissing gourami · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Marbled hatchetfish · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Panda garra · 29+ gal
- Rubber lip pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase panda garras, which use the same area.
- Peacock gudgeon · 15+ gal
- Rubber lip 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 25–25°C).
- Red rainbowfish · 40+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Ropefish · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Rubber lip pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase ropefish, which use the same area.
- Rosy tetra · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Scarlet badis · 10+ gal
- Rubber lip pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase scarlet badis, which use the same area.
- Severum · 55+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Shell dweller cichlid · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Rubber lip 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 rubber lip plecos, which use the same area.
- Shell dweller cichlid is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. Rubber lip 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.
- Sparkling gourami · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Threadfin rainbowfish · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Upside-down catfish · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Vampire shrimp · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Zebra loach · 29+ gal
- Rubber lip pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase zebra loaches, which use the same area.
- Dwarf rasbora · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Green neon tetra · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Moonlight gourami · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–25°C).
Avoid Bad tank mates (13)
- Boesemani rainbowfish: They need different temperatures: Rubber lip pleco 21–25°C (70–77°F), boesemani rainbowfish 26–29°C (79–84°F).
- Chinese algae eater: Chinese algae eater is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful rubber lip plecos.
- Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful rubber lip plecos.
- Discus: They need different temperatures: Rubber lip pleco 21–25°C (70–77°F), discus 28–30°C (82–86°F).
- German blue ram: They need different temperatures: Rubber lip pleco 21–25°C (70–77°F), german blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F).
- Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful rubber lip plecos.
- Pea puffer: Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful rubber lip 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 rubber lip plecos.
- Demasoni cichlid: Demasoni cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful rubber lip 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. Rubber lip plecos don't belong in that setup.
- Green terror: Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful rubber lip plecos.
- Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful rubber lip plecos.
- Zebra pleco: They need different temperatures: Rubber lip pleco 21–25°C (70–77°F), zebra pleco 26–30°C (79–86°F).
Frequently asked questions
What fish can live with rubber lip plecos?
Good tank mates for rubber lip plecos include cherry shrimp, nerite snail, guppy, neon tetra, zebra danio and tiger barb. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat rubber lip plecos.
Can rubber lip plecos live with angelfish?
Sometimes, with care. Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
Can rubber lip plecos live with bettas?
Sometimes, with care. Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
Can rubber lip plecos live with bristlenose plecos?
Sometimes, with care. Rubber lip 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 rubber lip plecos, which use the same area.
Can rubber lip plecos live with bronze corydoras?
Sometimes, with care. Rubber lip pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bronze corydoras, which use the same area.
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.