Can convict cichlids live with plecos?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Convict cichlids and plecos can share a tank, but watch one thing. Convict cichlids are aggressive, though plecos are big enough to shrug most of it off.

Convict cichlid74–82°F · pH 6.6–7.8

Common pleco72–86°F · pH 6.5–7.5

What to watch

Watch outConvict cichlids are aggressive, though plecos are big enough to shrug most of it off.
Watch outBoth claim territory on the bottom. Give each its own cave and plenty of floor space.
Watch outPlecos grow to 15 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for convict cichlids.

What works

Both are fine at 74–82°F.
pH 6.6–7.5 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

	Convict cichlid	Common pleco
Temperature	74–82 °F	72–86 °F
pH	6.6–7.8	6.5–7.5
Adult size	5.0 in	15.0 in
Minimum tank	30 gal	125 gal
Temperament	Aggressive	Peaceful
Swims at	Bottom	Bottom
Group	Alone or in pairs	Alone or in pairs
Diet	Omnivore	Herbivore

Better tank mates for convict cichlids

All convict cichlid tank mates

Better tank mates for plecos

All common pleco tank mates

Questions

Can convict cichlids live with plecos?

Yes, with care. Convict cichlids and plecos can share a tank, but watch one thing. Convict cichlids are aggressive, though plecos are big enough to shrug most of it off.

What temperature suits both convict cichlids and plecos?

74–82 °F. Convict cichlids need 74–82 °F, plecos need 72–86 °F.

What size tank do convict cichlids and plecos need together?

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