TankBud

Common pleco

Hypostomus plecostomus

Also known as suckermouth catfish

FreshwaterFish

Common pleco (Hypostomus plecostomus)
"Pleco (Hypostomus sp.)" by Peter O'Connor aka anemoneprojectors is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · by-sa

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–86°F
22–30°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
15.7 in
40 cm
Minimum tank
85 gal
320 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Very common
Family
Loricariidae
Origin
Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana

Overview

Hypostomus plecostomus is the fish the name common pleco was given, but the pleco sold under that name today is usually a sailfin pleco (Pterygoplichthys); the care below fits either. These are solitary, mostly peaceful fish that need a big tank, around 320 liters or more once grown. They stay on the bottom and are happiest with hiding spots and driftwood to gnaw on. Keep them warm, roughly the low to high 20s C, with a pH near neutral. They eat algae when young but need real food too, like algae wafers and vegetables, and they produce a lot of waste, so strong filtration helps.

In the wild

Common plecos come from rivers and streams across Brazil, French Guiana, and Guyana, where they graze on surfaces and wedge into cover during the day. They handle a wide range of conditions, which is part of why they are so common in the hobby. A tank with driftwood, rockwork, and good filtration matches what they want. They sit on the bottom and rasp at wood and biofilm.

Good to know

This is a suckermouth catfish in the Loricariidae family, covered in bony armor plates rather than scales. It is one of the larger options people buy small without realizing the size, reaching about 40 cm as an adult. It has no established captive breeding record in home tanks, and like other loricariids it uses its sucker mouth to hold position and feed.

Did you know

People buy these as a cleanup fish and are caught off guard when a 5 cm baby turns into a 40 cm adult. Older plecos also lose much of their interest in algae and lean harder on prepared and vegetable foods.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

Common pleco is a mostly peaceful, solitary species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a Common pleco need?

A Common pleco needs at least 85 gal (320 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Common pleco need?

A Common pleco is comfortable at 72–86°F (22–30°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.

How big does a Common pleco get?

An adult Common pleco reaches about 15.7 in (40 cm).

Related species