Can jack dempseys live with plecos?

Verdict
No

No. Jack dempseys and plecos should not share a tank. Jack dempseys are aggressive and will bully peaceful plecos.

Jack DempseyJack Dempsey72–86°F · pH 6.5–7.5 Common plecoCommon pleco72–86°F · pH 6.5–7.5

What to watch

What works

Water side by side

55°60°65°70°75°80°85°90°Both: 72–86°Jack Dempsey 72–86°Common pleco 72–86°
The green band is the temperature range both can live in.
456789Both: 6.5–7.5Jack Dempsey 6.5–7.5Common pleco 6.5–7.5
The green band is the pH both tolerate.

Size to scale

Jack Dempsey · 10 inCommon pleco · 15 in0"2"4"6"8"10"12"14"
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

Jack DempseyCommon pleco
Temperature72–86 °F72–86 °F
pH6.5–7.56.5–7.5
Adult size10.0 in15.0 in
Minimum tank55 gal125 gal
TemperamentAggressivePeaceful
Swims atMiddleBottom
GroupAlone or in pairsAlone or in pairs
DietCarnivoreHerbivore

Better tank mates for jack dempseys

All jack dempsey tank mates

Better tank mates for plecos

All common pleco tank mates

Questions

Can jack dempseys live with plecos?

No. Jack dempseys and plecos should not share a tank. Jack dempseys are aggressive and will bully peaceful plecos.

What temperature suits both jack dempseys and plecos?

72–86 °F. Jack dempseys need 72–86 °F, plecos need 72–86 °F.

What size tank do jack dempseys and plecos need together?

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