Can flowerhorns live with clown plecos?
Verdict
No
No. Flowerhorns and clown plecos should not share a tank. An adult flowerhorn eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3.5 inches clown plecos do.
What to watch
- Deal breakerAn adult flowerhorn eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3.5 inches clown plecos do.
- Deal breakerFlowerhorns are aggressive and will bully peaceful clown plecos.
What works
- Both are fine at 80–82°F.
- pH 7–7.5 suits both.
- They use different parts of the tank: flowerhorns the mid, clown plecos the bottom.
Water side by side
Size to scale
Care at a glance
| Flowerhorn | Clown pleco | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 80–89 °F | 73–82 °F |
| pH | 7–8 | 6.5–7.5 |
| Adult size | 12.0 in | 3.5 in |
| Minimum tank | 75 gal | 20 gal |
| Temperament | Aggressive | Peaceful |
| Swims at | Middle | Bottom |
| Group | One per tank | Alone or in pairs |
| Diet | Carnivore | Herbivore |
Better tank mates for clown plecos
Questions
Can flowerhorns live with clown plecos?
No. Flowerhorns and clown plecos should not share a tank. An adult flowerhorn eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3.5 inches clown plecos do.
What temperature suits both flowerhorns and clown plecos?
80–82 °F. Flowerhorns need 80–89 °F, clown plecos need 73–82 °F.
What size tank do flowerhorns and clown plecos need together?
At least 75 gal, set by the flowerhorn. Add space for each extra fish.