Can oscars live with clown plecos?
Verdict
No
No. Oscars and clown plecos should not share a tank. An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3.5 inches clown plecos do.
What to watch
- Deal breakerAn adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3.5 inches clown plecos do.
What works
- Both are fine at 74–81°F.
- pH 6.5–7.5 suits both.
- They use different parts of the tank: oscars the mid, clown plecos the bottom.
Water side by side
Size to scale
Care at a glance
| Oscar | Clown pleco | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 74–81 °F | 73–82 °F |
| pH | 6–8 | 6.5–7.5 |
| Adult size | 12.0 in | 3.5 in |
| Minimum tank | 75 gal | 20 gal |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive | Peaceful |
| Swims at | Middle | Bottom |
| Group | Alone or in pairs | Alone or in pairs |
| Diet | Carnivore | Herbivore |
Better tank mates for oscars
Common plecoYes
Clown loachYes
Black ghost knifeYes
BichirYes
Elephant nose fishYes
Chinese algae eaterYes
Better tank mates for clown plecos
Questions
Can oscars live with clown plecos?
No. Oscars and clown plecos should not share a tank. An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3.5 inches clown plecos do.
What temperature suits both oscars and clown plecos?
74–81 °F. Oscars need 74–81 °F, clown plecos need 73–82 °F.
What size tank do oscars and clown plecos need together?
At least 75 gal, set by the oscar. Add space for each extra fish.