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Encyclopedia / Catfish & Plecos / Common pleco
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Variations

1 kinds · tap one for a closer look

Common pleco

Pterygoplichthys pardalis · Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus, Sailfin pleco, Pleco, Sucker fish, Suckermouth catfish

Peaceful but huge.

Shops sell this fish as the common pleco. It is almost always Pterygoplichthys pardalis or P. disjunctivus, which grow past 50 cm. The name Hypostomus plecostomus belongs to a smaller fish from the Guianas that is rarely sold.

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50 cmAdult size ✓
20–28 °CTemperature ✓
6.2–8.2pH ✓
500 LSmallest tank ?
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Not recommended
  • Alligator gar eats animals up to about 60 cm. Common pleco only grows to 50 cm.
Not recommended
  • Vampire crab should be kept without other species, and it needs a land area too.
Not recommended
  • African clawed frog should be kept without other species.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: 27–28 °C.
With conditions
  • Their pH needs don't quite meet (6.2–8.2 vs 5–6). Aim between the two and keep it steady.
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible

562 species in our list are a good match.

Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. ✓ means a source backs it; ? means no reliable source yet. See sources

Care and water

Hardness ?Unknown
Group size ?Can live alone
Temperament ✓Semi-aggressive
Swims at ✓Bottom
Care level ?Moderate
Diet Herbivore
Lifespan ✓10–15 years
Size in shops 4–8 cm
Growth Fast

Behavior

Peaceful but huge.

Food

Algae wafers, vegetables, driftwood.

Tap a food to see what it is.

Male or female

MaleLarger, slightly longer pectoral spines
FemaleRounder
TipNot reliable
How hard to tellHard

Health

Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.

Breeding

Rarely bred in captivity ·

Not bred in home aquariums.

Pairing

Not usually bred in home tanks. Breeding takes huge ponds and burrows.

Setup

Needs a large pond with mud banks and burrows, 24-30 C.

What starts it

Breeding follows seasonal rains and the males dig burrows.

Eggs

Hundreds of eggs in a burrow; hatch in 4-10 days.

Raising the fry

Pond-raised fry eat algae and detritus. Grow-out is slow.

Common mistakes
  • Trying in small tanks
  • No burrows
  • Expecting fast growth
Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →

Where it lives in the wild

RegionNortheastern South America – the Guianas
Rivers and lakesCoastal rivers of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana
HabitatRivers with rocks and wood
Native rangeAbout 400 km across
See it on the world map

The story of the common pleco

Sold small as an algae eater, the shop "common plec" (usually Pterygoplichthys) grows to over 50 cm and needs a tank of many hundreds of litres; released fish have become highly invasive in warm countries such as Florida.

Linnaeus described this catfish in 1758, originally placing it in the sturgeon genus Acipenser. Its name gave rise to the word 'pleco'. Many fish sold as 'common pleco' are actually related species of Pterygoplichthys.

First described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758.

  • Its scientific name is the origin of the word 'pleco'.
  • Linnaeus first placed it in the sturgeon genus.
  • Many 'common plecos' in shops are actually sailfin plecos.

Sources

9 facts checked with sources