Common pleco care
Pterygoplichthys pardalis · Amazon basin
The pleco sold as a 2-inch algae eater grows to well over a foot and produces a lot of waste.
- Tank size
- 125 US gal or larger
- Temperature
- 72 to 82 °F (22 to 28 °C)
- Group size
- Alone or in a pair
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Adult size
- 18 in
- pH
- 6.5 to 7.8
- Hardness (GH)
- 4 to 20 dGH
- Lifespan
- 10 to 20 years
- Diet
- Mostly plant matter
- Care level
- Moderate
In a 125 gallon
72½ × 18½ × 23⅛ in outsideHow to keep common plecos
The pleco sold as a 2-inch algae eater grows to well over a foot and produces a lot of waste. It needs a 125 gallon or larger tank as an adult. For a small tank, choose a bristlenose pleco, otocinclus or nerite snails instead.
Diet: Mostly plant matter: algae wafers, vegetables, some meaty food. Fish food types compared · how often to feed.
Where they swim: Bottom of the tank.
Common pleco tank mates
Share the temperature and water, and neither side eats, nips or bullies the other. Check the full group in the stocking checker.
Bala shark
14 in · 125+ gal · 72–82 °F
Tinfoil barb
14 in · 150+ gal · 72–77 °F
Kissing gourami
12 in · 75+ gal · 72–82 °F
Uaru
9.8 in · 75+ gal · 79–86 °F
Blood parrot cichlid
8 in · 55+ gal · 76–80 °F
Severum
8 in · 55+ gal · 75–84 °F
Angelfish
6 in · 29+ gal · 76–84 °F
Giant danio
6 in · 55+ gal · 72–79 °F
Keep apart
Oscar: Oscars are aggressive towards peaceful fish such as common plecos.
Pea puffer: Pea puffers belong in a tank of their own.
Convict cichlid: Convict cichlids are aggressive towards peaceful fish such as common plecos.
Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempseys are aggressive towards peaceful fish such as common plecos.
Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlids are aggressive towards peaceful fish such as common plecos.
Green terror: Green terrors are aggressive towards peaceful fish such as common plecos.
What a common pleco tank needs
A tank of 125 US gallons or more (such as the 125 gallon) with a cover, and the equipment below.
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Aqueon QuietFlow Canister Filter 400
Rated by the maker for 100–150 US gal, which covers a 125 gallon common pleco tank without being built for a far bigger one.
EHEIM professionel 4+ 600 (2275)
Rated by the maker for 63–158 US gal, which covers a 125 gallon common pleco tank without being built for a far bigger one.
EHEIM thermocontrol 250
Common plecos need 72 to 82 °F; most homes run cooler, so a heater holds the temperature. Aqueon’s chart gives two 200 W heaters for a 125 gallon tank, and a second heater is worth having here: if one fails, the other keeps the water from going cold. Two Aqueon Pro 200 heaters, each rated by Aqueon for up to 75 gallons, make that pair. Heating a big tank.
API Freshwater Master Test Kit
Tests ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH, the readings that matter most before and after adding common plecos.
Seachem Prime 100 mL
Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water at every water change.
Fluval Edge Thermometer
Shows the water temperature at a glance, so you know it stays within 72 to 82 °F.
We don’t list fish food: any good brand of the foods under Diet will do. Plan the whole tank's equipment →
Common pleco problems
- Outgrowing the tank is the main problem; plan the adult tank before buying.
- Released plecos have become invasive in Florida, Texas and Hawaii; never release one.
Test the water first whenever fish look unwell: see what your readings mean, then match the symptom. For disease, a vet who treats fish can diagnose it and advise treatment.
More to compare
Sources
Name, origin and adult size checked against Wikipedia: Pterygoplichthys pardalis. Temperature, pH, hardness, group size, lifespan and minimum tank size are common hobby guidance, not figures from that article. Ranges are the range the species tolerates; aim for the middle. Minimum tank sizes are for an adult group. Drawings are our own; photo credits follow.
Photo credits
Real photographs from Wikimedia Commons, resized and cropped to fit; each is used under the license named.
- Common pleco Richwales, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Bala shark H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Tinfoil barb Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man), CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Kissing gourami 5snake5, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Uaru Brent Tibbats, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Blood parrot cichlid Citron, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Severum Trisha M Shears, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Angelfish Citron, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Giant danio Faucon, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Oscar H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Pea puffer Beta Mahatvaraj, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Convict cichlid S. Olkowicz, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Jack Dempsey Sviemeister (English Wikipedia), CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Jewel cichlid NasserHalaweh, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Green terror Dr. David Midgley at en.wikipedia, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Pygmy corydoras Birger A, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Salt-and-pepper corydoras D.W., CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Bronze corydoras Quatermass (English Wikipedia), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Panda corydoras Chronotopian, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
