Can plecos live with bamboo shrimp?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Plecos and bamboo shrimp 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 bamboo shrimp.

Common pleco72–86°F · pH 6.5–7.5

Bamboo shrimp72–82°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 bamboo shrimp.

What works

Both are fine at 72–82°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

	Common pleco	Bamboo shrimp
Temperature	72–86 °F	72–82 °F
pH	6.5–7.5	6.5–7.5
Adult size	15.0 in	3.0 in
Minimum tank	125 gal	20 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Peaceful
Swims at	Bottom	Bottom
Group	Alone or in pairs	Alone or in pairs
Diet	Herbivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for plecos

All common pleco tank mates

Better tank mates for bamboo shrimp

All bamboo shrimp tank mates

Questions

Can plecos live with bamboo shrimp?

Yes, with care. Plecos and bamboo shrimp 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 bamboo shrimp.

What temperature suits both plecos and bamboo shrimp?

72–82 °F. Plecos need 72–86 °F, bamboo shrimp need 72–82 °F.

What size tank do plecos and bamboo shrimp need together?

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