Rhino pleco
Pterygoplichthys scrophus
- Adult size
- 23 cm9 in
- Start with
- 1
- Tank length
- 150 cmabout 5 ft (59 in)
- Lifespan
- 15–20 yrs
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C72–82 °F
- pH
- 6–7.6
- Hardness
- 1–15 dGH
- Diet
- herbivore
Reaches 30+ cm with a large bioload; needs a spacious tank with caves and driftwood and is territorial toward other plecos.Reaches 30+ cm with a large bioload; needs a spacious tank with caves and driftwood and is territorial toward other plecos.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Alligator gar
Alligator gar may eat Rhino plecoAlligator gar may eat Rhino pleco
- Arapaima
Arapaima may eat Rhino plecoArapaima may eat Rhino pleco
- Bullseye snakehead
Bullseye snakehead may eat Rhino plecoBullseye snakehead may eat Rhino pleco
- Channel catfish
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Cuban gar
Cuban gar may eat Rhino plecoCuban gar may eat Rhino pleco
- Dourada
Dourada may eat Rhino plecoDourada may eat Rhino pleco
- Indonesian snakehead
Indonesian snakehead may eat Rhino plecoIndonesian snakehead may eat Rhino pleco
Iridescent sharkIridescent shark may eat Rhino plecoIridescent shark may eat Rhino pleco
- Longnose gar
Longnose gar may eat Rhino plecoLongnose gar may eat Rhino pleco
- Orange chromide
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Paroon shark
Paroon shark may eat Rhino plecoParoon shark may eat Rhino pleco
- Piraiba
Piraiba may eat Rhino plecoPiraiba may eat Rhino pleco
Sources
| temperature | 22–28 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
|---|---|---|
| ph | 6–7.6 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
| gh | 1–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
| origin | Peruvian Amazon | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| notes | Reaches 30+ cm with a large bioload; needs a spacious tank with caves and driftw | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| beginner friendly | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| care level | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| color palette | #2A2420, #C86A3A | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| activity | sedentary | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| swim zone | bottom | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| temperament | peaceful | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| fin nipper | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| long finned | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| territorial | true | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| schooling | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| schooling min | 1 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| diet | herbivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| lifespan years | 15–20 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| growth to adult months | 30 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| length weight | {"a":0.012,"b":3} | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| planted safe | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| min tank length | 150 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| body shape | pleco | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |