Can Common Pleco live with Red Rili Shrimp?
Caution — with care
Why
- Common Pleco is not on the verified shrimp-safe list, so we will not recommend it over a breeding Red Rili Shrimp colony. It may well be fine — it simply has not been confirmed by a source, and an unverified guess is not worth the colony.
- Common Pleco is much larger than Red Rili Shrimp but is not a shrimp hunter — it may take a shrimplet or clean up a moult. Adults are safe with cover.
Sweet spot: both do well at 72–78°F and pH 6.5–7.8 — aim there.
Side-by-side
| Common Pleco | Red Rili Shrimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 72–82°F | 65–78°F |
| pH | 6–8 | 6.5–7.8 |
| Hardness (GH) | 5–20 dGH | 4–14 dGH |
| Adult size | 24" | 1" |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Peaceful |
| Min tank | 150 gal | 5 gal |
Together, plan on at least 150 gallons.
How to make it work
- Keep a large, established shrimp colony in a heavily planted tank with moss and cover so enough survive to breed.
Sort it with: A larger tank
Where to buy
- Red Rili Shrimp: buy at The Shrimp Farm · The Shrimp Farm live-arrival guarantee
Live-animal shipping: add a heat pack below 50°F, expect weather holds above 90°F, and schedule delivery for a moderate week when someone can receive it promptly.
Design the whole tank, not just the stocking
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Design a tank with Common Pleco, Red Rili Shrimp →Everything compatible with Common Pleco · …with Red Rili Shrimp