Can pea puffers live with bristlenose plecos?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Pea puffers and bristlenose plecos can share a tank, but watch one thing. Pea puffers are aggressive, though bristlenose plecos are big enough to shrug most of it off.

Pea puffer74–82°F · pH 7–8

Bristlenose pleco73–81°F · pH 6.5–7.5

What to watch

Watch outPea puffers are aggressive, though bristlenose plecos are big enough to shrug most of it off.

What works

Both are fine at 74–81°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

	Pea puffer	Bristlenose pleco
Temperature	74–82 °F	73–81 °F
pH	7–8	6.5–7.5
Adult size	1.0 in	5.0 in
Minimum tank	5 gal	30 gal
Temperament	Aggressive	Peaceful
Swims at	All levels	Bottom
Group	Alone or in pairs	Alone or in pairs
Diet	Carnivore	Herbivore

Better tank mates for pea puffers

CrayfishYes

All pea puffer tank mates

Better tank mates for bristlenose plecos

All bristlenose pleco tank mates

Questions

Can pea puffers live with bristlenose plecos?

Yes, with care. Pea puffers and bristlenose plecos can share a tank, but watch one thing. Pea puffers are aggressive, though bristlenose plecos are big enough to shrug most of it off.

What temperature suits both pea puffers and bristlenose plecos?

74–81 °F. Pea puffers need 74–82 °F, bristlenose plecos need 73–81 °F.

What size tank do pea puffers and bristlenose plecos need together?

At least 30 gal, set by the bristlenose pleco. Add space for each extra fish.