TankmateChecker

Can zebra plecos live with tinfoil barbs?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Zebra plecos and tinfoil barbs can share a tank, but watch one thing. They only share 79–80°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.

Zebra pleco

Zebra pleco79–88°F · pH 6–7.5

Tinfoil barb

Tinfoil barb72–80°F · pH 6.5–7.5

What to watch

Watch outThey only share 79–80°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.
Watch outTinfoil barbs grow to 12 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for zebra plecos.

What works

pH 6.5–7.5 suits both.
They use different parts of the tank: zebra plecos the bottom, tinfoil barbs the mid.

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

	Zebra pleco	Tinfoil barb
Temperature	79–88 °F	72–80 °F
pH	6–7.5	6.5–7.5
Adult size	3.5 in	12.0 in
Minimum tank	30 gal	125 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Peaceful
Swims at	Bottom	Middle
Group	Alone or in pairs	Groups of 5+
Diet	Carnivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for zebra plecos

All zebra pleco tank mates

Better tank mates for tinfoil barbs

All tinfoil barb tank mates

Questions

Can zebra plecos live with tinfoil barbs?

Yes, with care. Zebra plecos and tinfoil barbs can share a tank, but watch one thing. They only share 79–80°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.

What temperature suits both zebra plecos and tinfoil barbs?

79–80 °F. Zebra plecos need 79–88 °F, tinfoil barbs need 72–80 °F.

What size tank do zebra plecos and tinfoil barbs need together?

At least 125 gal, set by the tinfoil barb. Add space for each extra fish.