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Common Pleco

Pterygoplichthys pardalis

Freshwater South America Usually captive bred

A ubiquitous armoured catfish often bought as a juvenile cleaner that swiftly outgrows most standard home aquaria. They produce massive quantities of physical waste, needing heavy biological and mechanical filtration. Offer sinking vegetable wafers, raw vegetables, and driftwood rather than assuming algae alone will sustain them.

40 cm adult length, drawn to scale. torpedo body.

Outgrows a typical home tank. Check this fish against the adult size above before buying a juvenile. The minimum shown is the least it is kept in for good, not a comfortable size.

Try it in the planner Opens a tank sized to its minimum with 1 fish added.

What it needs

ItemValueBecause
Adult length 40 cm Used for the Space check: the tank must be long enough for the fish to turn round.
Smallest tank 500 L, at least 180 cm long estimated The least water and floor length this species is kept in for good, as a single fish or smallest group.
Extra water per added fish 100 L estimated What each further fish adds once the minimum is met.
Waste load Class 5 of 5 estimated How much waste an adult makes against its size. Feeds the Load check.
Temperature 22 to 28 C Stock sharing a tank need overlapping ranges.
pH 6.5 to 7.8 Compared with tankmates in the Water check.
Hardness GH 5 to 20, KH 3 to 12 Degrees of general and carbonate hardness.
Flow Medium Low-flow fish are stressed in a strong current.
Light Moderate Matched to the lighting class on the needs sheet.
Group size Single fish is fine Not a schooling species.
Temperament Peaceful Territorial: weak.
Swims in Near the bottom Fish that use different levels share a tank more easily.
Lifespan About 15 years A fish is a long commitment.
Experience Suits a first tank A guide to how forgiving the species is of mistakes.

Tags marked estimated are judged from the size and habits of the species rather than measured, so treat them as a sensible default.

Diet and tank layout

Common Pleco is an herbivore that swims in the lowest part of the tank. It leaves most plants alone. Give it plenty of cover. It digs, so anchor plants and keep hard rock off loose sand.

Tankmates

Works with

Depends

Avoid

Compare any two fish on the compatibility page, or print the equipment for a stock on the needs sheet. How this is worked out: the method.