Bristlenose pleco tank mates
Bristlenose pleco: peaceful, 4.9 in, fine on its own, swims in the bottom of the tank and needs about 17 gallons. The list below checks every species in our catalog against it.
Each species is checked against bristlenose plecos both ways: mouth size, fin nipping, temperament, territory, water overlap and keeper reports.
Good tank mates
- Fits
Neon tetra
Paracheirodon innesiThe classic community fish: a tight school of electric-blue stripes that suits planted tanks of 15 gallons and up.
1.2 in · 17+ gal · 70–77°F · pH 5–7 - Fits
Harlequin rasbora
Trigonostigma heteromorphaCopper-orange schooling fish with a black wedge; hardy, calm and a good first school for a 15–20 gallon tank.
1.4 in · 17+ gal · 73–81°F · pH 6–7 - Fits
Fancy guppy
Poecilia reticulataColourful livebearers with flowing tails; prefer harder water and breed readily, so plan for fry.
1.4 in · 13+ gal · 75–81°F · pH 7–8 - Fits
Cherry shrimp
Neocaridina davidiBright red dwarf shrimp that graze all day and breed in a planted tank; tiny bioload, but fry are snacks for most fish.
1.6 in · 4+ gal · 72–75°F · pH 6.5–7.8 - Fits
Betta
Betta splendensThe Siamese fighting fish: one male per tank, warm still water, and no long-finned or nippy tank mates.
2.8 in · 11+ gal · 72–86°F · pH 6–7.5 - Fits
Angelfish
Pterophyllum scalareTall, graceful cichlids for tall tanks of 30 gallons and up; adults eat neon tetras and shrimp, so stock around them.
3.5 in · 32+ gal · 77–84°F · pH 6–7 - Fits
Amano shrimp
Caridina multidentataThe best-known algae-eating shrimp, made famous by Takashi Amano; bigger than cherries and a good fit for planted community tanks.
2 in · 7+ gal · 72–77°F · pH 6.5–7.5 - Fits
Black neon tetra
Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodiA peaceful tetra with a bright white-over-black stripe; hardier than the neon tetra and an easy fit in any calm community tank.
1.4 in · 23+ gal · 73–81°F · pH 5.5–7.5 - Fits
Black widow tetra
Gymnocorymbus ternetziA hardy, deep-bodied tetra with black 'skirt' fins; easy for beginners, but a small group nips the fins of its tank mates.
2.4 in · 22+ gal · 68–79°F · pH 6–7 - Fits
Blood parrot cichlid
hybridA man-made hybrid cichlid with a round body and a beak-like mouth that barely closes; usually gentle and rarely able to swallow tank mates.
7.9 in · 36+ gal · 72–82°F · pH 6.5–8 - Fits
Bronze cory
Corydoras aeneusThe most widely kept cory: a tough bronze-green or albino catfish that shoals along the bottom and handles a broad range of water.
3 in · 23+ gal · 70–81°F · pH 6–8 - Fits
Cardinal tetra
Paracheirodon axelrodiThe neon's close cousin, with red running the full length of the belly; a soft, acidic-water schooling fish that likes it warmer than neons.
1.4 in · 17+ gal · 73–81°F · pH 4–6 - Fits
Cherry barb
Puntius titteyaOne of the most peaceful barbs: males glow cherry red and leave fins alone, making it great for planted community tanks.
2 in · 17+ gal · 73–81°F · pH 6–8 - Fits
Clown loach
Chromobotia macracanthusA bold orange-and-black loach that lives 20 years and grows over a foot long, so a proper group needs a 6-foot tank.
15.7 in · 202+ gal · 75–86°F · pH 5–7 - Fits
Discus
Symphysodon aequifasciatus (species complex)The 'king of the aquarium': a disc-shaped Amazon cichlid in countless bred colours that needs warm, soft, very clean water.
5.5 in · 80+ gal · 79–86°F · pH 5–7 - Fits
Dwarf gourami
Trichogaster laliusA bright little gourami popular with beginners; one male per tank, no bettas, and buy carefully, as imported fish often carry an incurable iridovirus.
3 in · 18+ gal · 72–81°F · pH 6–7.5 - Fits
Fairy cichlid
Neolamprologus brichardiA graceful Tanganyika cichlid with a lyre tail; one pair grows into a family colony that guards its rocks year-round.
3.5 in · 34+ gal · 73–79°F · pH 8–9 - Fits
Firemouth cichlid
Thorichthys meekiA Central American cichlid with a fiery red throat it flares when threatened; fairly calm for a cichlid but territorial when breeding.
4.7 in · 34+ gal · 75–82°F · pH 6.5–8.5 - Fits
Glowlight tetra
Hemigrammus erythrozonusA small, translucent tetra with a glowing orange stripe along its body; peaceful, hardy and at its best in a densely planted tank.
1.6 in · 22+ gal · 75–82°F · pH 6–7.5 - Fits
Honey gourami
Trichogaster chunaA small, very gentle honey-coloured gourami for calm tanks of 15 gallons with peaceful tank mates.
2.2 in · 17+ gal · 72–81°F · pH 6–7.5 - Fits
Kribensis
Pelvicachromis pulcherA small West African cichlid whose female has a bright belly; a cave-spawning pair digs pits and guards fry along the bottom.
3.9 in · 23+ gal · 75–81°F · pH 6.5–7 - Fits
Kuhli loach
Pangio semicinctaA banded, eel-like loach of about 4 inches that burrows by day and explores the bottom as a group in the evening; needs soft sand.
3.9 in · 17+ gal · 70–79°F · pH 3.5–7 - Fits
Molly
Poecilia sphenopsA sturdy livebearer that needs hard water and plenty of plant food, and does well in slightly brackish conditions.
3.1 in · 26+ gal · 70–82°F · pH 7–8.5 - Fits
Multies
Neolamprologus multifasciatusThe smallest Tanganyika cichlid, about 2 inches, living in empty snail shells; a colony carves the sand into tiny fiercely guarded plots.
1.8 in · 13+ gal · 77–80°F · pH 8–8.5
And 67 more in the species catalog.
Risky
- With care
Panda corydoras
Corydoras pandaBristlenose pleco attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Panda corydoras.
1.6 in · 17+ gal · 72–77°F · pH 6–7.2 - With care
Otocinclus
Otocinclus vittatusBristlenose pleco attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Otocinclus.
1.4 in · 17+ gal · 72–79°F · pH 6–7.2 - With care
Tiger barb
Puntigrus tetrazonaTiger barb nips fins; Bristlenose pleco is vulnerable (slow swimmer). Risk is reduced: the group is at least the recommended size.
2.2 in · 32+ gal · 72–79°F · pH 6–7.5 - With care
Blue dolphin cichlid
Cyrtocara mooriiTwo territorial bottom-dwellers: need ≥ 7500 cm² of floor, tank has 5612 cm².
9.8 in · 80+ gal · 77–81°F · pH 8–8.5 - With care
Chinese algae eater
Gyrinocheilus aymonieriTwo territorial bottom-dwellers: need ≥ 8550 cm² of floor, tank has 5612 cm².
11 in · 95+ gal · 72–79°F · pH 6–8 - With care
Common pleco
Pterygoplichthys pardalisBristlenose pleco attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Amazon sailfin catfish (common pleco).
22.8 in · 203+ gal · 77–82°F · pH 7–7.5 - With care
Convict cichlid
Amatitlania nigrofasciataConvict cichlid (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Bristlenose pleco.
5.9 in · 34+ gal · 75–82°F · pH 7–8 - With care
Demasoni
Chindongo demasoni (syn. Pseudotropheus demasoni)Two territorial bottom-dwellers: need ≥ 7200 cm² of floor, tank has 5612 cm².
3 in · 64+ gal · 75–82°F · pH 8.2–8.5 - With care
Golden mbuna
Melanochromis auratusTwo territorial bottom-dwellers: need ≥ 7200 cm² of floor, tank has 5612 cm².
4.3 in · 64+ gal · 75–82°F · pH 7.6–8.8 - With care
Goldfish
Carassius auratusGoldfish needs cool water; bristlenose plecos need tropical heat.
5.9 in · 24+ gal · 50–75°F · pH 6.5–8 - With care
Jewel cichlid
Rubricatochromis bimaculatus (syn. Hemichromis bimaculatus)Jewel cichlid (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Bristlenose pleco.
5.9 in · 34+ gal · 72–82°F · pH 6–7.8 - With care
Leopard sailfin pleco
Pterygoplichthys gibbicepsBristlenose pleco attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Leopard sailfin pleco.
19.7 in · 187+ gal · 77–86°F · pH 5–7
And 20 more in the species catalog.
Avoid
- Avoid
Iridescent shark
Pangasianodon hypophthalmusIridescent shark can eat Bristlenose pleco: prey body depth 2.5 cm ≤ mouth 32.5 cm.
51.2 in · 4532+ gal · 72–79°F · pH 6.5–7.5 - Avoid
Oscar
Astronotus ocellatusOscar can eat Bristlenose pleco: prey body depth 2.5 cm ≤ mouth 12.3 cm.
13.8 in · 168+ gal · 72–77°F · pH 6–7.5 - Avoid
African clawed frog
Xenopus laevisAfrican clawed frog should only be kept in a single-species tank.
5.9 in · 13+ gal · 63–75°F · pH 6.8–7.8 - Avoid
Marbled crayfish
Procambarus virginalisMarbled crayfish should only be kept in a single-species tank.
3.9 in · 19+ gal · 64–77°F · pH 7–8 - Avoid
Redclaw crayfish
Cherax quadricarinatusRedclaw crayfish eats bottom fish: Bristlenose pleco.
7.9 in · 47+ gal · 64–82°F · pH 7.2–8.2 - Avoid
Axolotl
Ambystoma mexicanumAxolotl should only be kept in a single-species tank.
9.8 in · 13+ gal · 57–68°F · pH 6.5–8 - Avoid
Bala shark
Balantiocheilos melanopterusSilver shark can eat Bristlenose pleco: prey body depth 2.5 cm ≤ mouth 8.8 cm.
13.8 in · 269+ gal · 72–82°F · pH 6–8 - Avoid
Black ghost knifefish
Apteronotus albifronsBlack ghost knifefish can eat Bristlenose pleco: prey body depth 2.5 cm ≤ mouth 10.0 cm.
19.7 in · 202+ gal · 73–82°F · pH 6–8 - Avoid
Crystal red shrimp
Caridina logemanniCrystal red shrimp should only be kept in a single-species tank.
1.2 in · 6+ gal · 68–77°F · pH 5.5–7 - Avoid
Figure eight puffer
Dichotomyctere ocellatusFigure eight puffer nips fins; Bristlenose pleco is vulnerable (slow swimmer).
3.1 in · 22+ gal · 72–79°F · pH 6.5–7.5 - Avoid
Green spotted puffer
Dichotomyctere nigroviridisGreen spotted puffer nips fins; Bristlenose pleco is vulnerable (slow swimmer).
6.7 in · 34+ gal · 75–82°F · pH 7.5–8.5 - Avoid
Jaguar cichlid
Parachromis managuensisJaguar cichlid can eat Bristlenose pleco: prey body depth 2.5 cm ≤ mouth 17.6 cm.
21.7 in · 202+ gal · 75–86°F · pH 7–8
And 14 more in the species catalog.
Every tank is different. Set yours up once (size, water, who already lives there) and each species is checked against it.
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