Can plecos live with zebra loaches?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Plecos and zebra loaches 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 zebra loaches.

Common pleco72–86°F · pH 6.5–7.5

Zebra loach73–79°F · pH 6–7.5

What to watch

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

What works

Both are fine at 73–79°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	Zebra loach
Temperature	72–86 °F	73–79 °F
pH	6.5–7.5	6–7.5
Adult size	15.0 in	3.5 in
Minimum tank	125 gal	30 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Peaceful
Swims at	Bottom	Bottom
Group	Alone or in pairs	Groups of 5+
Diet	Herbivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for plecos

All common pleco tank mates

Better tank mates for zebra loaches

All zebra loach tank mates

Questions

Can plecos live with zebra loaches?

Yes, with care. Plecos and zebra loaches 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 zebra loaches.

What temperature suits both plecos and zebra loaches?

73–79 °F. Plecos need 72–86 °F, zebra loaches need 73–79 °F.

What size tank do plecos and zebra loaches need together?

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