Can plecos live with hatchetfish?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Plecos and hatchetfish 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 hatchetfish.

Common pleco72–86°F · pH 6.5–7.5

Hatchetfish75–81°F · pH 5.5–7.5

What to watch

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

What works

Both are fine at 75–81°F.
pH 6.5–7.5 suits both.
They use different parts of the tank: plecos the bottom, hatchetfish the top.

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	Hatchetfish
Temperature	72–86 °F	75–81 °F
pH	6.5–7.5	5.5–7.5
Adult size	15.0 in	1.5 in
Minimum tank	125 gal	20 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Peaceful
Swims at	Bottom	Top
Group	Alone or in pairs	Groups of 6+
Diet	Herbivore	Carnivore

Better tank mates for plecos

All common pleco tank mates

Better tank mates for hatchetfish

All hatchetfish tank mates

Questions

Can plecos live with hatchetfish?

Yes, with care. Plecos and hatchetfish 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 hatchetfish.

What temperature suits both plecos and hatchetfish?

75–81 °F. Plecos need 72–86 °F, hatchetfish need 75–81 °F.

What size tank do plecos and hatchetfish need together?

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