Plecos and suckermouth catfish

Plecos range from two-inch otocinclus to common plecos that outgrow most tanks, so adult size is the first thing to check. Many graze algae but still need wood and sinking food of their own. Profiles list adult size, tank size and diet for each species.

44 species

• 

  Adonis Pleco (L155)

  Acanthicus adonis

  35.4 in (90 cm)264 gal (1,000 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)

• 

  Amazon sailfin catfish

  Pterygoplichthys pardalis

  17.7 in (45 cm)100 gal (380 L)72–84°F (22–29°C)
• Blue Panaque (L239)

  Baryancistrus beggini

  4.7 in (12 cm)30 gal (115 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)
• Blue Phantom Pleco (L128)

  Hemiancistrus sp. L128

  9.8 in (25 cm)66 gal (250 L)81–86°F (27–30°C)

• 

  Blue-eyed pleco

  Panaque cochliodon

  11.8 in (30 cm)119 gal (450 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)

• 

  Bristlenose pleco

  Ancistrus sp.

  4.9 in (12.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)70–79°F (21–26°C)

• 

  Bulldog pleco

  Chaetostoma formosae

  4.3 in (11 cm)40 gal (150 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)

• 

  Butterfly Pleco (L168)

  Dekeyseria brachyura

  5.5 in (14 cm)40 gal (150 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)

• 

  Candy Striped Pleco (L015)

  Peckoltia vittata

  4.7 in (12 cm)30 gal (115 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)

• 

  Clown peckoltia (L134)

  Peckoltia compta

  4.7 in (12 cm)29 gal (110 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)

• 

  Clown pleco

  Panaqolus maccus

  3.5 in (9 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
• Colombian Zebra Pleco (L129)

  Hypancistrus debilittera

  3.5 in (9 cm)20 gal (75 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)

• 

  Common otocinclus

  Otocinclus vittatus

  2 in (5 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Common pleco

  Hypostomus plecostomus

  15.7 in (40 cm)85 gal (320 L)72–86°F (22–30°C)

• 

  Flash Pleco (L204)

  Panaqolus albivermis

  5.1 in (13 cm)40 gal (150 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)

• 

  Giant whiptail catfish

  Sturisomatichthys aureus

  7.9 in (20 cm)53 gal (200 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)

• 

  Gold nugget pleco

  Baryancistrus sp. cf. xanthellus

  9.8 in (25 cm)55 gal (210 L)81–90°F (27–32°C)

• 

  Golden dwarf sucker

  Otocinclus macrospilus

  1.4 in (3.5 cm)11 gal (40 L)70–79°F (21–26°C)

• 

  Green Phantom Pleco (L200)

  Hemiancistrus subviridis

  7.1 in (18 cm)53 gal (200 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)

• 

  King tiger pleco (L066)

  Hypancistrus sp. L066

  5.1 in (13 cm)40 gal (150 L)79–84°F (26–29°C)
• Leopard Cactus Pleco (L114)

  Pseudacanthicus cf. leopardus

  13.8 in (35 cm)106 gal (400 L)81–88°F (27–31°C)

• 

  Leopard sailfin pleco

  Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps

  18.9 in (48 cm)100 gal (380 L)72–86°F (22–30°C)
• Medusa Pleco (L034)

  Ancistrus ranunculus

  5.9 in (15 cm)40 gal (150 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)
• Mega Clown Pleco (L340)

  Hypancistrus sp. L340

  3.5 in (9 cm)20 gal (75 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)
• Orinoco Angel Pleco (L201)

  Hypancistrus sp. L201

  5.9 in (15 cm)30 gal (115 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)
• Queen Arabesque Pleco (L260)

  Hypancistrus sp. L260

  3.9 in (10 cm)20 gal (75 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)

• 

  Red lizard whiptail

  Rineloricaria lanceolata

  3.9 in (10 cm)24 gal (90 L)77–82°F (25–28°C)

• 

  Royal pleco

  Panaque nigrolineatus

  16.9 in (43 cm)125 gal (473 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
• Royal whiptail catfish

  Sturisoma panamense

  7.9 in (20 cm)40 gal (150 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)

• 

  Sailfin pleco

  Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus

  17.7 in (45 cm)100 gal (380 L)73–84°F (23–29°C)
• Scarlet Cactus Pleco (L025)

  Pseudacanthicus pirarara

  15.7 in (40 cm)119 gal (450 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)
• Snowball pleco (L102)

  Hypancistrus inspector

  5.9 in (15 cm)30 gal (113 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Spotted pleco

  Hypostomus punctatus

  11.8 in (30 cm)79 gal (300 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
• Starlight Bristlenose Pleco (L183)

  Ancistrus dolichopterus

  5.5 in (14 cm)30 gal (115 L)79–84°F (26–29°C)
• Sturgeon Catfish

  Lamontichthys filamentosus

  6.3 in (16 cm)36 gal (135 L)72–86°F (22–30°C)

• 

  Sultan Pleco (L264)

  Leporacanthicus joselimai

  8.7 in (22 cm)66 gal (250 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)
• Sunshine Pleco (L014)

  Scobinancistrus aureatus

  13.8 in (35 cm)106 gal (400 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)

• 

  Thunder Royal Pleco (L027)

  Panaque armbrusteri

  17.7 in (45 cm)151 gal (570 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
• Tiger Pleco (L002)

  Panaqolus sp. L002

  5.1 in (13 cm)40 gal (150 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)

• 

  Twig catfish

  Farlowella vittata

  5.9 in (15 cm)30 gal (115 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
• Vampire Pleco (L029)

  Leporacanthicus galaxias

  9.8 in (25 cm)66 gal (250 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)

• 

  Whiptail catfish

  Rineloricaria sp.

  4.3 in (11 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–84°F (24–29°C)

• 

  Zebra dwarf sucker

  Otocinclus cocama

  1.8 in (4.5 cm)11 gal (40 L)70–77°F (21–25°C)

• 

  Zebra pleco

  Hypancistrus zebra

  3.1 in (8 cm)15 gal (55 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)