Can fancy goldfish live with plecos?

Verdict

No. Fancy goldfish and plecos should not share a tank. Fancy goldfish are coldwater animals (65–74°F); plecos need 72–86°F. They overlap only at 72–74°F, the edge of both ranges.

Fancy goldfish65–74°F · pH 7–8

Common pleco72–86°F · pH 6.5–7.5

What to watch

Deal breakerFancy goldfish are coldwater animals (65–74°F); plecos need 72–86°F. They overlap only at 72–74°F, the edge of both ranges.
Watch outPlecos sometimes latch on to slow, flat fish like fancy goldfish and rasp their slime coat.
Watch outPlecos grow to 15 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for fancy goldfish.

What works

pH 7–7.5 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

	Fancy goldfish	Common pleco
Temperature	65–74 °F	72–86 °F
pH	7–8	6.5–7.5
Adult size	6.0 in	15.0 in
Minimum tank	30 gal	125 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Peaceful
Swims at	All levels	Bottom
Group	Alone or in pairs	Alone or in pairs
Diet	Omnivore	Herbivore

Better tank mates for fancy goldfish

All fancy goldfish tank mates

Better tank mates for plecos

All common pleco tank mates

Questions

Can fancy goldfish live with plecos?

No. Fancy goldfish and plecos should not share a tank. Fancy goldfish are coldwater animals (65–74°F); plecos need 72–86°F. They overlap only at 72–74°F, the edge of both ranges.

What temperature suits both fancy goldfish and plecos?

72–74 °F. Fancy goldfish need 65–74 °F, plecos need 72–86 °F.

What size tank do fancy goldfish and plecos need together?

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