Can firemouth cichlids live with zebra plecos?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Firemouth cichlids and zebra plecos can share a tank, but watch one thing. Both claim territory on the bottom. Give each its own cave and plenty of floor space.

Firemouth cichlid75–86°F · pH 6.5–8

Zebra pleco79–88°F · pH 6–7.5

What to watch

Watch outBoth claim territory on the bottom. Give each its own cave and plenty of floor space.

What works

Both are fine at 79–86°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

	Firemouth cichlid	Zebra pleco
Temperature	75–86 °F	79–88 °F
pH	6.5–8	6–7.5
Adult size	6.0 in	3.5 in
Minimum tank	30 gal	30 gal
Temperament	Semi-aggressive	Peaceful
Swims at	Bottom	Bottom
Group	Alone or in pairs	Alone or in pairs
Diet	Omnivore	Carnivore

Better tank mates for firemouth cichlids

All firemouth cichlid tank mates

Better tank mates for zebra plecos

All zebra pleco tank mates

Questions

Can firemouth cichlids live with zebra plecos?

Yes, with care. Firemouth cichlids and zebra plecos can share a tank, but watch one thing. Both claim territory on the bottom. Give each its own cave and plenty of floor space.

What temperature suits both firemouth cichlids and zebra plecos?

79–86 °F. Firemouth cichlids need 75–86 °F, zebra plecos need 79–88 °F.

What size tank do firemouth cichlids and zebra plecos need together?

At least 30 gal, set by the firemouth cichlid. Add space for each extra fish.