Rubberlip Pleco
Chaetostoma milesi
The Rubberlip Pleco (Chaetostoma milesi) is a peaceful fish that's easy to keep. Give it a tank of at least 100 litres (26 US gallons), water held at 72-79°F, and a pH of 6.5-8.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
South America (Colombia / Venezuela)
- South America
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
Rubberlip Pleco Tank Setup
Give them at least 100 litres (26 US gallons) with a piece of driftwood, strong filtration, water at 72-79°F, and a pH around 6.5-8. Algae alone won't keep an adult fed, so offer sinking foods too. They reach about 13 cm as adults, so don't be misled by the small juveniles sold in stores.
What Do Rubberlip Plecos Eat?
They're grazers, so base their diet on algae, blanched vegetables, and spirulina-based foods rather than high-protein flake. A spotless tank with nothing to graze on leaves them thin and underfed.
Rubberlip Pleco Tank Mates
Prefers cooler water than most tropical plecos (22-26C) - check compatibility with tankmates. Often sold interchangeably with the Rubber Pleco (Parancistrus aurantiacus) which is a different species and grows larger. Supplement algae diet with zucchini, spinach and algae wafers. Provide driftwood and good water flow. The Rubberlip Pleco is peaceful, which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. Good matches come down to the whole stocking list working together - temperature, tank size, and temperament - not any single label. Before you buy, run your full stocking list through our stocking calculator. It weighs temperament, adult size, and water needs together, which a single species page can't do on its own.
Are Rubberlip Plecos Good for Beginners?
Reasonable early choice after cycling. Buy after the tank has stable ammonia and nitrite readings, not the same weekend you fill it.
Rubberlip Pleco - frequently asked questions
What size tank do Rubberlip Plecos need?
Rubberlip Plecos need a tank of at least 100 litres (26 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.
What water parameters do Rubberlip Plecos need?
Keep them at 72-79°F with a pH of 6.5-8, steady rather than chased to an exact figure. In a cycled tank, ammonia and nitrite should both read 0 ppm, with nitrate kept low through regular water changes.
What do Rubberlip Plecos eat?
Rubberlip Plecos are grazers. Base their diet on algae, blanched vegetables, and spirulina-based foods rather than high-protein flake. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and remove anything they don't eat.
Are Rubberlip Plecos good for beginners?
Yes - Rubberlip Plecos are a reasonable beginner fish once the tank is cycled and parameters are stable. Add them after ammonia and nitrite read 0 ppm, not the same day you fill the tank.
Common mistakes with Rubberlip Plecos
- Underestimating tank size - the minimum footprint is 100 litres (26 US gallons); impulse buying into a smaller tank leads to stress and shortened lifespan.
Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.
Great tank mates
Chosen from temperament, overlapping temperature/pH bands, plausible minimum tank footprints, and size versus yours in App-aquatic data. Hobby nuance always wins - verify stocking and temperament before purchasing.
Fish to avoid mixing with Rubberlip Plecos
These well-known species are commonly sold alongside this fish but are not recommended tank mates - verify before purchasing.
- OscarPredator - Oscar will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Pea PufferPredator - Pea Puffer will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Betta (Male)Predator - Betta (Male) will eat or injure smaller tank mates
