Can plecos live with siamese algae eaters?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Plecos and siamese algae eaters 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 siamese algae eaters.

Common pleco72–86°F · pH 6.5–7.5

Siamese algae eater75–79°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 siamese algae eaters.

What works

Both are fine at 75–79°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	Siamese algae eater
Temperature	72–86 °F	75–79 °F
pH	6.5–7.5	6.5–7.5
Adult size	15.0 in	6.0 in
Minimum tank	125 gal	30 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Peaceful
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 siamese algae eaters

All siamese algae eater tank mates

Questions

Can plecos live with siamese algae eaters?

Yes, with care. Plecos and siamese algae eaters 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 siamese algae eaters.

What temperature suits both plecos and siamese algae eaters?

75–79 °F. Plecos need 72–86 °F, siamese algae eaters need 75–79 °F.

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

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