Bristlenose pleco care

Water temperature

73–81°F

A bristlenose pleco wants water at 73–81°F, pH 6.5–7.5, and a tank of 30 gallons or bigger. Good tank mates include bettas, angelfish, guppies.

The pleco that stays small. Needs driftwood and vegetables.

Ancistrus sp.

pH

6.5–7.5

Minimum tank

30 gal

Adult size

5.0 in

Temperament

Peaceful

Group

Alone or in pairs

Lifespan

5–10 years

Swims at

Bottom

Diet

Herbivore

Best tank mates

• BettaYes
• AngelfishYes
• GuppyYes
• Tiger barbYes
• Blue gouramiYes
• Honey gouramiYes
• Congo tetraYes
• Cherry barbYes
• Electric blue acaraYes
• Sparkling gouramiYes
• Dwarf gouramiYes
• Kissing gouramiYes

Full bristlenose pleco tank mate chart: 73 yes, 12 with care, 13 no

Bristlenose pleco water compared

Fish to keep away from bristlenose plecos

• Axolotl Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); bristlenose plecos need 73–81°F. No temperature suits both.
• Oscar An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 5 inches bristlenose plecos do.
• Jack Dempsey Jack dempseys are aggressive and will bully peaceful bristlenose plecos.
• Goldfish Goldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); bristlenose plecos need 73–81°F. They overlap only at 73–74°F, the edge of both ranges.
• Convict cichlid Convict cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful bristlenose plecos.
• Bichir An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 5 inches bristlenose plecos do.
• African cichlid African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful bristlenose plecos.
• Black ghost knife An adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 5 inches bristlenose plecos do.

More catfish and plecos

• Corydoras72–79°F
• Pictus catfish72–79°F
• Otocinclus72–79°F
• Panda cory68–77°F
• Common pleco72–86°F
• Glass catfish75–80°F
• Upside down catfish72–79°F
• Zebra pleco79–88°F