TankmateChecker

Can angelfish live with plecos?

Verdict

No

No. Angelfish and plecos should not share a tank. Plecos sometimes latch on to slow, flat fish like angelfish and rasp their slime coat.

Angelfish

Angelfish76–84°F · pH 6–7.5

Common pleco

Common pleco72–86°F · pH 6.5–7.5

What to watch

Deal breakerPlecos sometimes latch on to slow, flat fish like angelfish and rasp their slime coat.
Watch outPlecos grow to 15 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for angelfish.

What works

Both are fine at 76–84°F.
pH 6.5–7.5 suits both.
They use different parts of the tank: angelfish the mid, plecos the bottom.

Water side by side

The green band is the temperature range both can live in.

The green band is the pH both tolerate.

Size to scale

Adult length in an aquarium. A fish can swallow anything that fits in its mouth, roughly a third to half its own length for predators.

Care at a glance

	Angelfish	Common pleco
Temperature	76–84 °F	72–86 °F
pH	6–7.5	6.5–7.5
Adult size	6.0 in	15.0 in
Minimum tank	30 gal	125 gal
Temperament	Semi-aggressive	Peaceful
Swims at	Middle	Bottom
Group	Alone or in pairs	Alone or in pairs
Diet	Omnivore	Herbivore

Better tank mates for angelfish

All angelfish tank mates

Better tank mates for plecos

All common pleco tank mates

Questions

Can angelfish live with plecos?

No. Angelfish and plecos should not share a tank. Plecos sometimes latch on to slow, flat fish like angelfish and rasp their slime coat.

What temperature suits both angelfish and plecos?

76–84 °F. Angelfish need 76–84 °F, plecos need 72–86 °F.

What size tank do angelfish and plecos need together?

At least 125 gal, set by the common pleco. Add space for each extra fish.