Compatibility brief
Can Common Pleco live with Jack Dempsey?
Caution. Check the issues below before buying.
Compatibility score
Profile confidence: low
Order of checkstank volume vs adults → predation mouth gap → temperament / fin nipping → shared water windows.
600L
Combined minimum footprint reference for these two species: about 600L (larger active fish often want more length).
Common Pleco (peaceful) and Jack Dempsey (aggressive) are far apart on aggression — bullying or injury is a common outcome in average community layouts.
Assessment details
Aggression pressure — managed pairing
Top issueJack Dempsey is aggressive, while Common Pleco is peaceful. The aggressive fish will likely bully or harm the peaceful one. Keepers run this combination in large, structured tanks, but it stays a managed risk, not a default community mix.
Compatible temperature range
Both fish can comfortably share similar water temperatures.
“Jack Dempsey is aggressive, while Common Pleco is peaceful”
Aggression pressure — managed pairing
Next steps
Concrete changes, not "research more" filler.
- •Common Pleco reaches ~60cm: tank length and turning room matter more than the litre number. A tall, short tank of the same volume is not equivalent.
- LiveAquaria. Suckermouth / Common pleco (Hypostomus plecostomus)
Primary: large-aquarium retailer care guidance for the common / suckermouth Hypostomus type; emphasises long-term size and need for a very large system.
- Planet Catfish. Hypostomus plecostomus (Cat-eLog species sheet)
Primary: hobby species sheet: identification pointers, size expectations, and import caveats for the name 'common pleco' in trade.
- FishBase. Hypostomus plecostomus
Secondary: natural distribution and maximum size in the wild; cross-check 'common plec' in shops, which is often a different Hypostomus altogether.
- Seriously Fish. Rocio octofasciata
Primary: aquarium size, water chemistry, behaviour, and compatibility (URL verified in upgrade script; recheck if site content changes).
- FishBase. Rocio octofasciata
Secondary: taxonomy, distribution, and maximum length in nature; cross-check with aquarium import lines and measured tank parameters.
- Wikipedia. Rocio octofasciata
Secondary: general species context; verify all husbandry numbers against a dedicated aquarium care sheet and your test kit, not a single table row.
Try this next
Build the full stocking list with Common Pleco + Jack Dempsey
Plan further
Check each species’ mates list, size the glass, then verify the full stock in the builder. Methodology explains how verdicts are produced.
Individual fish vary in personality. Fishori uses conservative hobby rules. Observe any new introduction closely, feed thoughtfully, and keep a quarantine or backup plan. This is not veterinary advice.
Profile data confidence: medium. Driven by the lower-confidence profile (Common Pleco): Typical care sources — trade names for this fish get mixed up, so verify the ID before you buy.