Can chinese algae eaters live with pencilfish?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Chinese algae eaters and pencilfish can share a tank, but watch one thing. Chinese algae eaters grow to 10 inches and need 75 gallons, far more than a tank set up for pencilfish.

Chinese algae eater74–80°F · pH 6–8

Pencilfish75–82°F · pH 5–7.5

What to watch

Watch outChinese algae eaters grow to 10 inches and need 75 gallons, far more than a tank set up for pencilfish.

What works

Both are fine at 75–80°F.
pH 6–7.5 suits both.
They use different parts of the tank: chinese algae eaters the bottom, pencilfish the mid.

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

	Chinese algae eater	Pencilfish
Temperature	74–80 °F	75–82 °F
pH	6–8	5–7.5
Adult size	10.0 in	2.0 in
Minimum tank	75 gal	15 gal
Temperament	Semi-aggressive	Peaceful
Swims at	Bottom	Middle
Group	Alone or in pairs	Groups of 6+
Diet	Herbivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for chinese algae eaters

All chinese algae eater tank mates

Better tank mates for pencilfish

All pencilfish tank mates

Questions

Can chinese algae eaters live with pencilfish?

Yes, with care. Chinese algae eaters and pencilfish can share a tank, but watch one thing. Chinese algae eaters grow to 10 inches and need 75 gallons, far more than a tank set up for pencilfish.

What temperature suits both chinese algae eaters and pencilfish?

75–80 °F. Chinese algae eaters need 74–80 °F, pencilfish need 75–82 °F.

What size tank do chinese algae eaters and pencilfish need together?

At least 75 gal, set by the chinese algae eater. Add space for each extra fish.