Species › Catfish and plecos

Bristlenose pleco tank mates and minimum tank size

Ancistrus cf. cirrhosus

Bristlenose plecos grow to 15 cm (6 in). They need 23–26 °C (73–79 °F) and pH 6.5–7.5.

Minimum tank

110 L (29 US gal), at least 60 cm (24 in) long

Adult size

15 cm (6 in)

Temperature

23–26 °C (73–79 °F)

pH

pH 6.5–7.5

Group

no minimum

Bristlenose pleco minimum tank size

Bristlenose plecos need at least 110 L (29 US gal), in a tank at least 60 cm (24 in) long.

That is the largest minimum among the sources below. The planner also checks the tank length against the adult size of 15 cm (6 in): a tank shorter than 4 times that is cramped (61 cm (24 in)).

Bristlenose pleco tank mates

Each of the other 52 species in this reference, judged against bristlenose plecos by the same rules as the compatibility checker. A guide, not a guarantee.

Compatible (32)

• Black neon tetra
• Black skirt tetra
• Bronze corydoras
• Celestial pearl danio
• Cherry barb
• Chili rasbora
• Clown loach
• Congo tetra
• Dwarf gourami
• Ember tetra
• Endler's livebearer
• Glass catfish
• Glowlight tetra
• Guppy
• Harlequin rasbora
• Honey gourami
• Kribensis
• Lemon tetra
• Neon tetra
• Nerite snail
• Otocinclus
• Panda corydoras
• Pearl gourami
• Platy
• Pygmy corydoras
• Red tail shark
• Serpae tetra
• Siamese algae eater
• Swordtail
• Tiger barb
• Yoyo loach
• Zebra danio

With care (9)

• AngelfishThe only temperature that suits both is 25.6–26 °C (78–79 °F), set by angelfish and bristlenose plecos. That leaves no margin.
• BettaBettas are usually best kept alone. Some accept calm tank mates such as bristlenose plecos, many do not.
• Cherry shrimpBristlenose plecos leave adult cherry shrimp alone but may eat their young.
• Common plecoBristlenose plecos fight plecos, and common plecos are one of them.
• DiscusThe only temperature that suits both is 26 °C (79 °F), set by discus and bristlenose plecos. That leaves no margin.
• Kuhli loachThe only pH that suits both is pH 6.5, set by bristlenose plecos and kuhli loaches. That leaves no margin.
• MollyThe only pH that suits both is pH 7.5, set by mollies and bristlenose plecos. That leaves no margin.
• Mystery snailThe only pH that suits both is pH 7.2–7.5, set by mystery snails and bristlenose plecos. That leaves no margin.
• Peppered corydorasThe only temperature that suits both is 23 °C (73 °F), set by bristlenose plecos and peppered corydoras. That leaves no margin.

Not compatible (11)

• Boeseman's rainbowfishBoeseman's rainbowfish need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F); bristlenose plecos need 23–26 °C (73–79 °F). No temperature suits both.
• Cardinal tetraBristlenose plecos need pH 6.5–7.5; cardinal tetras need pH 4.0–6.0. No pH suits both.
• Cockatoo dwarf cichlidBristlenose plecos need pH 6.5–7.5; cockatoo dwarf cichlids need pH 6.0. No pH suits both.
• Convict cichlidConvict cichlids are aggressive and best kept in a tank of their own; they attack fish several times their size, so bristlenose plecos would be harassed.
• German blue ramGerman blue rams need 27–30 °C (81–86 °F); bristlenose plecos need 23–26 °C (73–79 °F). No temperature suits both. Bristlenose plecos need pH 6.5–7.5; German blue rams need pH 5.0–6.0. No pH suits both.
• GoldfishBristlenose plecos need 23–26 °C (73–79 °F); goldfish need 15.6–21.1 °C (60–70 °F). No temperature suits both.
• OscarOscars grow to 46 cm and eat animals they can swallow; bristlenose plecos grow to 15 cm.
• Paradise fishBristlenose plecos need 23–26 °C (73–79 °F); paradise fish need 16–22 °C (61–72 °F). No temperature suits both.
• Rosy barbBristlenose plecos need 23–26 °C (73–79 °F); rosy barbs need 18–22 °C (64–72 °F). No temperature suits both.
• Rummy-nose tetraBristlenose plecos need pH 6.5–7.5; rummy-nose tetras need pH 5.5–6.0. No pH suits both.
• White cloud mountain minnowBristlenose plecos need 23–26 °C (73–79 °F); white cloud mountain minnows need 18–22 °C (64–72 °F). No temperature suits both.

Sources

Where sources differ, the value shown is computed as the most cautious one.

Behaviour notes are from Seriously Fish, read 2026-10-26.

Check against another species Plan a tank