Can chinese algae eaters live with zebra plecos?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Chinese algae eaters and zebra plecos can share a tank, but watch one thing. They only share 79–80°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.

Chinese algae eater74–80°F · pH 6–8

Zebra pleco79–88°F · pH 6–7.5

What to watch

Watch outThey only share 79–80°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.
Watch outBoth claim territory on the bottom. Give each its own cave and plenty of floor space.

What works

pH 6–7.5 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

	Chinese algae eater	Zebra pleco
Temperature	74–80 °F	79–88 °F
pH	6–8	6–7.5
Adult size	10.0 in	3.5 in
Minimum tank	75 gal	30 gal
Temperament	Semi-aggressive	Peaceful
Swims at	Bottom	Bottom
Group	Alone or in pairs	Alone or in pairs
Diet	Herbivore	Carnivore

Better tank mates for chinese algae eaters

All chinese algae eater tank mates

Better tank mates for zebra plecos

All zebra pleco tank mates

Questions

Can chinese algae eaters live with zebra plecos?

Yes, with care. Chinese algae eaters and zebra plecos can share a tank, but watch one thing. They only share 79–80°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.

What temperature suits both chinese algae eaters and zebra plecos?

79–80 °F. Chinese algae eaters need 74–80 °F, zebra plecos need 79–88 °F.

What size tank do chinese algae eaters and zebra plecos need together?

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