Sailfin pleco care
Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps · Amazon and Orinoco basins in Brazil, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela
Sailfin plecos are sold as small algae eaters but grow to about 20 inches and live more than 20 years.
- Tank size
- 150 US gal or larger
- Temperature
- 72 to 82 °F (22 to 28 °C)
- Group size
- Alone or in a pair
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Adult size
- 20 in
- pH
- 6.5 to 7.8
- Hardness (GH)
- 4 to 20 dGH
- Lifespan
- 15 to 20 years
- Diet
- Herbivore
- Care level
- Easy
In a 150 gallon
72½ × 18½ × 29½ in outsideHow to keep sailfin plecos
Sailfin plecos are sold as small algae eaters but grow to about 20 inches and live more than 20 years. Plan a 150 gallon or larger tank at 72 to 82 °F with strong filtration; they are peaceful with fish but argue with other plecos.
Diet: Herbivore: algae wafers, vegetables, driftwood. Fish food types compared · how often to feed.
Where they swim: Bottom of the tank.
Sailfin 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 sailfin plecos.
Pea puffer: Pea puffers belong in a tank of their own.
Convict cichlid: Convict cichlids are aggressive towards peaceful fish such as sailfin plecos.
Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempseys are aggressive towards peaceful fish such as sailfin plecos.
Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlids are aggressive towards peaceful fish such as sailfin plecos.
Green terror: Green terrors are aggressive towards peaceful fish such as sailfin plecos.
What a sailfin pleco tank needs
A tank of 150 US gallons or more (such as the 150 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 150 gallon sailfin 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 150 gallon sailfin pleco tank without being built for a far bigger one.
EHEIM thermocontrol 250
Sailfin plecos need 72 to 82 °F; most homes run cooler, so a heater holds the temperature. Aqueon’s chart gives two 300 W heaters for a 150 gallon tank, and a second heater is worth having here: if one fails, the other keeps the water from going cold. Two Aqueon Pro 300 heaters, each rated by Aqueon for up to 100 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 sailfin 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 sailfin pleco problems
- They outgrow the tank they were bought for; plan for the adult size first.
- Adults eat many live plants.
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 gibbiceps. 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.
- Sailfin pleco AnatolyPm, CC BY-SA 4.0, 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
