Can neon tetras live with plecos?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Neon tetras and plecos can share a tank, but watch one thing. Plecos grow to 15 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for neon tetras.

Neon tetra72–79°F · pH 6–7

Common pleco72–86°F · pH 6.5–7.5

What to watch

Watch outPlecos grow to 15 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for neon tetras.

What works

Both are fine at 72–79°F.
pH 6.5–7 suits both.
They use different parts of the tank: neon tetras the mid, plecos the bottom.

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

	Neon tetra	Common pleco
Temperature	72–79 °F	72–86 °F
pH	6–7	6.5–7.5
Adult size	1.5 in	15.0 in
Minimum tank	10 gal	125 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Peaceful
Swims at	Middle	Bottom
Group	Groups of 6+	Alone or in pairs
Diet	Omnivore	Herbivore

Better tank mates for neon tetras

All neon tetra tank mates

Better tank mates for plecos

All common pleco tank mates

Questions

Can neon tetras live with plecos?

Yes, with care. Neon tetras and plecos can share a tank, but watch one thing. Plecos grow to 15 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for neon tetras.

What temperature suits both neon tetras and plecos?

72–79 °F. Neon tetras need 72–79 °F, plecos need 72–86 °F.

What size tank do neon tetras and plecos need together?

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