Bristlenose Pleco
Bristlenose Pleco is a peaceful freshwater fish that needs a tank of at least 25 gallons (95 L), water at 73-81°F (23-27°C) and a pH of 5.8-7.8.
Full care guide for Bristlenose Pleco
Also searched as: bristlenose, bristlenose pleco, ancistrus
Quick facts
Best all-around algae-eating pleco. Stays under 5". Needs driftwood in diet.
| Minimum tank | 25 gallons (95 L) |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 73-81°F (23-27°C) |
| pH | 5.8-7.8 |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Swim level | Bottom |
| Group size | Can be kept singly |
| Tank type | Freshwater |
Good tank mates
Ranked by water overlap and temperament, using the same checks as the MyAquaLog compatibility tool.
- Plecostomusmin tank 30 gal
Temperature overlap 73-81°F, pH overlap 6.5-7.5. Both species are peaceful.
- Neon Tetramin tank 10 gal
Temperature overlap 73-81°F, pH overlap 6-7. Both species are peaceful.
- Rummy Nose Tetramin tank 10 gal
Temperature overlap 75-81°F, pH overlap 6-7. Both species are peaceful.
- Guppymin tank 5 gal
Temperature overlap 73-81°F, pH overlap 6.8-7.8. Both species are peaceful.
- Banded Gouramimin tank 30 gal
Temperature overlap 73-81°F, pH overlap 6-7.5. Both species are peaceful.
- Bleeding Heart Tetramin tank 30 gal
Temperature overlap 73-81°F, pH overlap 6-7. Both species are peaceful.
- Congo Tetramin tank 30 gal
Temperature overlap 73-81°F, pH overlap 6-7.5. Both species are peaceful.
- Glass Catfishmin tank 30 gal
Temperature overlap 75-80°F, pH overlap 6.5-7. Both species are peaceful.
Avoid with
Pairings that fail the temperament, water-overlap or known-conflict checks.
- Flowerhorn Cichlidmin tank 70 gal
Aggressive species will harass or eat peaceful fish; temperature overlap 80-81°F is too narrow.
- Tropheusmin tank 75 gal
Aggressive species will harass or eat peaceful fish; no pH overlap (5.8-7.8 vs 8-9).
Aggressive species will harass or eat peaceful fish.
Oscar Fishmin tank 55 galChinese Algae Eatermin tank 30 galConvict Cichlidmin tank 30 gal
Bristlenose Pleco pairing checks
One-to-one checks against other popular species, with the reasons for each verdict.
- Amano Shrimp yes
- Angelfish with caution
- Betta Fish with caution
- Cardinal Tetra yes
- Cherry Shrimp yes
- Corydoras Catfish yes
- Discus no
- Dwarf Gourami with caution
- Goldfish no
- Guppy yes
- Harlequin Rasbora yes
- Kuhli Loach yes
- Molly Fish yes
- Mystery Snail yes
- Neon Tetra yes
- Nerite Snail yes
- Oscar Fish no
- Otocinclus yes
- Platy yes
- Plecostomus yes
- Rummy Nose Tetra yes
- Siamese Algae Eater yes
Check your own tank
These lists compare one species against the rest of the database. Your stock list, tank size and bioload change the answer, so log your own tank.
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