Can I Put a Pleco in With My Betta?

Putting a plecostomus in your tank with a betta will require a great many things to be considered. Even with the best of preparation, ultimately, the new tank mates may not get along and one or the other will have to be rehomed or returned to the pet store if things go sour.

  1. Size of the Aquarium

    • Betta fish require at least 2-gallon aquariums to survive; however, these are fish that were bred down from fish that lived in widespread rice paddies. For most serious keepers, male bettas are kept in aquariums of at least 5 gallons. Female bettas that are non-aggressive are kept in large aquariums together with at least 5 gallons per fish. The smallest species of plecostomus require at least a 30-gallon aquarium. Plecostomus that are commonly labeled as "algae eaters" or "suckerfish" require at least 55-gallon aquariums and will become nearly two feet long at full size.

    Feeding

    • Bettas are top swimming fish. This means that they prefer to swim high in the tank. They feed on pellets or flakes suitable for their species; however, they will also chase anything dropped in the tank. This includes food that sinks to the bottom, like algae rounds, for your plecostomus. This can start fights between the betta and the pleco. Very large plecos may also decide to eat small bettas.

    Temperature

    • Betta fish can be housed at temperatures between 70 degrees and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. This is relatively common of most hardy tropical species of fish. Most breeds of plecostomus have a smaller range from 75 to 80, but if the betta is comfortable within the pleco's range this is not a concern. Diseases sometimes require the temperature in a betta's tank to be raised to help kill off bacteria and fungus. Sometimes these temperatures go as high as 90 degrees Fahrenheit. A plecostomus will die very quickly at these temperatures.

    Aquarium Mates

    • Consideration must be taken into account any current aquarium tank mates that either fish has before placing one fish in with the other. Consult a compatability chart to assure that transferring one fish over into another aquarium will not disrupt or kill other, uninvolved tank mates.

    Decision

    • If the fish get along, an appropriate-sized aquarium and temperature can be located and neither fish fights the other for food, you can house all types of plecostomus with a single male betta or female betta sorority group. If the fish show any signs of aggression but the owner still wants to involve catfish in the aquarium, corydoras catfish are an option.