Can plecos live with chinese algae eaters?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Plecos and chinese algae eaters can share a tank, but watch one thing. Both claim territory on the bottom. Give each its own cave and plenty of floor space.

Common pleco72–86°F · pH 6.5–7.5

Chinese algae eater74–80°F · pH 6–8

What to watch

Watch outBoth claim territory on the bottom. Give each its own cave and plenty of floor space.

What works

Both are fine at 74–80°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

	Common pleco	Chinese algae eater
Temperature	72–86 °F	74–80 °F
pH	6.5–7.5	6–8
Adult size	15.0 in	10.0 in
Minimum tank	125 gal	75 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Semi-aggressive
Swims at	Bottom	Bottom
Group	Alone or in pairs	Alone or in pairs
Diet	Herbivore	Herbivore

Better tank mates for plecos

All common pleco tank mates

Better tank mates for chinese algae eaters

All chinese algae eater tank mates

Questions

Can plecos live with chinese algae eaters?

Yes, with care. Plecos and chinese algae eaters can share a tank, but watch one thing. Both claim territory on the bottom. Give each its own cave and plenty of floor space.

What temperature suits both plecos and chinese algae eaters?

74–80 °F. Plecos need 72–86 °F, chinese algae eaters need 74–80 °F.

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

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