Can Red Claw Crab live with Royal Pleco?
Not recommended
Why
- Red Claw Crab hunts along the bottom and will catch the bottom-dwelling Royal Pleco, especially at night.
- No overlapping water hardness: Red Claw Crab wants 15–25 dGH but Royal Pleco wants 4–12 dGH.
- Only a narrow pH overlap — keep both around 7.5–7.5.
Side-by-side
| Red Claw Crab | Royal Pleco | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 75–82°F | 73–82°F |
| pH | 7.5–8.5 | 6.5–7.5 |
| Hardness (GH) | 15–25 dGH | 4–12 dGH |
| Adult size | 2.5" | 17" |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive | Peaceful |
| Min tank | 15 gal | 120 gal |
Together, plan on at least 120 gallons.
Compatible alternatives
Instead of Red Claw Crab (to keep Royal Pleco):
- Thai Micro Pom Pom Crab — 0.8", peaceful
- Thai Micro Crab — 0.4", peaceful
- Pom Pom Crab — 1", semi-aggressive
Instead of Royal Pleco (to keep Red Claw Crab):
- Oscar — 16", aggressive
- Kissing Gourami — 12", semi-aggressive
- Giant Gourami — 24", semi-aggressive
Design the whole tank, not just the stocking
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Design a tank with Red Claw Crab, Royal Pleco →Everything compatible with Red Claw Crab · …with Royal Pleco