Can cherry shrimp live with plecos?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Cherry shrimp and plecos can share a tank, but watch one thing. Plecos grow to 15 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for cherry shrimp.

Cherry shrimp65–80°F · pH 6.5–8

Common pleco72–86°F · pH 6.5–7.5

What to watch

Watch outPlecos grow to 15 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for cherry shrimp.

What works

Both are fine at 72–80°F.
pH 6.5–7.5 suits both.

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

	Cherry shrimp	Common pleco
Temperature	65–80 °F	72–86 °F
pH	6.5–8	6.5–7.5
Adult size	1.5 in	15.0 in
Minimum tank	5 gal	125 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Peaceful
Swims at	Bottom	Bottom
Group	Groups of 6+	Alone or in pairs
Diet	Omnivore	Herbivore

Better tank mates for cherry shrimp

All cherry shrimp tank mates

Better tank mates for plecos

All common pleco tank mates

Questions

Can cherry shrimp live with plecos?

Yes, with care. Cherry shrimp and plecos can share a tank, but watch one thing. Plecos grow to 15 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for cherry shrimp.

What temperature suits both cherry shrimp and plecos?

72–80 °F. Cherry shrimp need 65–80 °F, plecos need 72–86 °F.

What size tank do cherry shrimp and plecos need together?

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