Common Pleco
Pterygoplichthys pardalis
Also sold as Plecostomus · Hypostomus · Pterygoplichthys · Plec · Amazon sailfin catfish
Synonyms Sailfin pleco · Suckermouth catfish · Hypostomus plecostomus · Sucker fish · Liposarcus pardalis
Common Pleco (Pterygoplichthys pardalis) is a semi-aggressive freshwater fish that reaches about 57.8 cm (22.8 in) and swims along the bottom. It wants 72–82°F (22–28°C) and pH 6.5–7.5, can be kept singly, and needs a tank of at least 400 L (106 gal).
Check a freshwater stocking selection with your tank size and animal counts.
Try it in a tank
Put Common Pleco in a 3D tank at your size and see how it sits with everything else. Free with an account.
At a glance
| Type | Fish |
|---|---|
| Adult size | 57.8 cm (22.8 in) |
| Minimum tank | 400 L (106 gal) |
| Group size | Can be kept singly |
| Temperature | 72–82°F (22–28°C) |
| pH | 6.5–7.5 |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive |
| GH | 5–20 |
| Lifespan | 15–20 years |
Before it goes in
- Common Pleco needs at least 400 L (106 gal). The smallest size in this library that clears that is the 125 Gallon.
- It holds at 72–82°F (22–28°C). That shares a window with Betta and Cherry Shrimp.
- It is semi-aggressive — plan the tank around it rather than adding it to a finished community.
- It digs in the substrate. A freshly planted carpet — Dwarf Hairgrass Mini and Downoi — gets lifted before it roots.
- It eats soft-leaved plants. Hygrophila corymbosa 'Siamensis' and Bacopa caroliniana will not last with it; tough-leaved Anubias nana 'Petite' and Marimo Moss Ball will.
- One of them takes up roughly 51% of what a 125 Gallon will comfortably hold, so plan the rest of the stock around it.
Common Pleco: care and setup
What tank size does it need?
At least 400 L (106 gal). The smallest size here that clears it is the 125 Gallon.
What water does it want?
72–82°F (22–28°C), pH 6.5–7.5, GH 5–20.
How long does it live?
15–20 years in a tank that suits it. That is how long you are signing up for.
Good tank mates
- Tank mates from this library that share its temperature window, are peaceful and eat neither it nor its young: Cherry Shrimp, Goldfish, Bristlenose Pleco, Celestial Pearl Danio and Molly.
- Plants that hold up with it: Anubias nana 'Petite', Marimo Moss Ball, Subwassertang and Anubias barteri.
Often compared with
| Common Pleco | Bristlenose Pleco | Clown Pleco | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult size | 57.8 cm | 12 cm | 9 cm |
| Min tank | 400 L | 75 L | 75 L |
| Group | 1+ | 1+ | 1+ |
| Temperature | 72–82°F (22–28°C) | 72–81°F (22–27°C) | 73–82°F (23–28°C) |