Can Otocinclus Catfish live with Zebra Pleco?
Caution — with care
Why
- Almost no shared temperature: Otocinclus Catfish wants 72–79°F and Zebra Pleco wants 79–86°F, so only 79°F suits both — too fine a margin to actually hold.
Sweet spot: both do well at 79–79°F and pH 6–7.5 — aim there.
Side-by-side
| Otocinclus Catfish | Zebra Pleco | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 72–79°F | 79–86°F |
| pH | 6–7.5 | 6–7.5 |
| Hardness (GH) | 2–10 dGH | 2–6 dGH |
| Adult size | 1.5" | 3.5" |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Peaceful |
| Min tank | 10 gal | 30 gal |
Together, plan on at least 30 gallons.
How to make it work
- Target the overlapping water-parameter range and acclimate slowly.
Sort it with: An adjustable heater
Where to buy
- Otocinclus Catfish: 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
Skapelab plans a complete, buildable planted aquarium around your fish — a hand-illustrated layout, the exact plants and hardscape, a placement map, and a full equipment and shopping list. Free.
Design a tank with Otocinclus Catfish, Zebra Pleco →Everything compatible with Otocinclus Catfish · …with Zebra Pleco