Can oscars live with zebra plecos?
Verdict
No
No. Oscars and zebra plecos should not share a tank. An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3.5 inches zebra plecos do.
What to watch
- Deal breakerAn adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3.5 inches zebra plecos do.
What works
- Both are fine at 79–81°F.
- pH 6–7.5 suits both.
- They use different parts of the tank: oscars the mid, zebra plecos the bottom.
Water side by side
Size to scale
Care at a glance
| Oscar | Zebra pleco | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 74–81 °F | 79–88 °F |
| pH | 6–8 | 6–7.5 |
| Adult size | 12.0 in | 3.5 in |
| Minimum tank | 75 gal | 30 gal |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive | Peaceful |
| Swims at | Middle | Bottom |
| Group | Alone or in pairs | Alone or in pairs |
| Diet | Carnivore | Carnivore |
Better tank mates for oscars
Common plecoYes
Clown loachYes
Black ghost knifeYes
BichirYes
Elephant nose fishYes
Chinese algae eaterYes
Better tank mates for zebra plecos
Questions
Can oscars live with zebra plecos?
No. Oscars and zebra plecos should not share a tank. An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3.5 inches zebra plecos do.
What temperature suits both oscars and zebra plecos?
79–81 °F. Oscars need 74–81 °F, zebra plecos need 79–88 °F.
What size tank do oscars and zebra plecos need together?
At least 75 gal, set by the oscar. Add space for each extra fish.