Can Clown Pleco Live With Sparkling Gourami?
Clown Pleco and Sparkling Gourami are compatible. Temperature overlap 76–82°F. Both peaceful.
Conditions: Minimum 20 gallon tank.
Parameter Comparison
| Parameter | Clown Pleco | Sparkling Gourami | Overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 73–82°F | 76–82°F | 76–82°F ✓ |
| pH Range | 6.5–7.5 | 6–7.5 | 6.5–7.5 ✓ |
| Temperament | peaceful | peaceful | Both peaceful ✓ |
| Max Size | 3.5" | 1.5" | Similar ✓ |
| Min Tank Size | 20 gal | 10 gal | 20 gal minimum together |
| Diet | Herbivore/Wood eater | Micro-carnivore | — |
| Care Level | beginner | intermediate | — |
Tank Requirements for Clown Pleco + Sparkling Gourami
To keep Clown Pleco and Sparkling Gourami together, you need at minimum a 20 gallon tank. Provide adequate filtration, stable temperature with a heater, and hiding spots to reduce stress.
Species Profiles
Clown Pleco
Panaqolus maccus
Clown plecos are beautiful, small plecos with striking orange and black striped patterns. At only 3.5 inches max size, they are perfect for 20-gallon and larger community tanks. Unlike many pleco species, they are primarily wood eaters rather than algae eaters — driftwood is an essential part of their setup. They are shy, nocturnal, and make excellent additions to planted tanks.
Full care guide →Sparkling Gourami
Trichopsis pumila
The Sparkling Gourami (Trichopsis pumila) is a intermediate-level freshwater fish growing to 1.5 inches. Peaceful temperament, minimum 10 gallon tank.
Full care guide →