Can koi live with bristlenose plecos?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Koi and bristlenose plecos can share a tank, but watch one thing. A grown koi may treat small bristlenose plecos as food, especially at night.

Koi59–77°F · pH 7–8.5

Bristlenose pleco73–81°F · pH 6.5–7.5

What to watch

Watch outA grown koi may treat small bristlenose plecos as food, especially at night.

What works

Both are fine at 73–77°F.
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

	Koi	Bristlenose pleco
Temperature	59–77 °F	73–81 °F
pH	7–8.5	6.5–7.5
Adult size	24.0 in	5.0 in
Minimum tank	Pond	30 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Peaceful
Swims at	All levels	Bottom
Group	Groups of 3+	Alone or in pairs
Diet	Omnivore	Herbivore

Better tank mates for koi

All koi tank mates

Better tank mates for bristlenose plecos

All bristlenose pleco tank mates

Questions

Can koi live with bristlenose plecos?

Yes, with care. Koi and bristlenose plecos can share a tank, but watch one thing. A grown koi may treat small bristlenose plecos as food, especially at night.

What temperature suits both koi and bristlenose plecos?

73–77 °F. Koi need 59–77 °F, bristlenose plecos need 73–81 °F.

What size tank do koi and bristlenose plecos need together?

A pond. Koi outgrow indoor tanks.