Can white cloud minnows live with plecos?

Verdict

No. White cloud minnows and plecos should not share a tank. White cloud minnows are coldwater animals (60–72°F); plecos need 72–86°F. They meet only at 72°F, the edge of both ranges.

White cloud minnow60–72°F · pH 6–8

Common pleco72–86°F · pH 6.5–7.5

What to watch

Deal breakerWhite cloud minnows are coldwater animals (60–72°F); plecos need 72–86°F. They meet only at 72°F, the edge of both ranges.
Watch outPlecos grow to 15 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for white cloud minnows.

What works

pH 6.5–7.5 suits both.
They use different parts of the tank: white cloud minnows 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

	White cloud minnow	Common pleco
Temperature	60–72 °F	72–86 °F
pH	6–8	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 white cloud minnows

All white cloud minnow tank mates

Better tank mates for plecos

All common pleco tank mates

Questions

Can white cloud minnows live with plecos?

No. White cloud minnows and plecos should not share a tank. White cloud minnows are coldwater animals (60–72°F); plecos need 72–86°F. They meet only at 72°F, the edge of both ranges.

What temperature suits both white cloud minnows and plecos?

72–72 °F. White cloud minnows need 60–72 °F, plecos need 72–86 °F.

What size tank do white cloud minnows and plecos need together?

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