Can plecos live with paradise fish?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Plecos and paradise fish 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 paradise fish.

Common pleco72–86°F · pH 6.5–7.5

Paradise fish61–79°F · pH 6–8

What to watch

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

What works

Both are fine at 72–79°F.
pH 6.5–7.5 suits both.
They use different parts of the tank: plecos the bottom, paradise fish 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	Paradise fish
Temperature	72–86 °F	61–79 °F
pH	6.5–7.5	6–8
Adult size	15.0 in	3.5 in
Minimum tank	125 gal	20 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Semi-aggressive
Swims at	Bottom	Top
Group	Alone or in pairs	One per tank
Diet	Herbivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for plecos

All common pleco tank mates

Better tank mates for paradise fish

All paradise fish tank mates

Questions

Can plecos live with paradise fish?

Yes, with care. Plecos and paradise fish 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 paradise fish.

What temperature suits both plecos and paradise fish?

72–79 °F. Plecos need 72–86 °F, paradise fish need 61–79 °F.

What size tank do plecos and paradise fish need together?

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