How much do catfish and plecos cost in the UK?

Common corydoras and bristlenose plecos start at about £2-£6, mid-range fancy plecos and synodontis run £15-£40, and rare L-number plecos reach well into the hundreds for sought-after imports. Prices on this page are live: what you see is what's in stock today.

How big do plecos get?

It depends entirely on the species. Bristlenose plecos stay around 15 cm and suit most tanks, but a common pleco can reach 40-60 cm and needs a very large aquarium. Always check the species before buying that cute 5 cm juvenile — this is the single most common pleco mistake.

Which catfish is best for a community tank?

Corydoras are the classic community catfish — peaceful, small, shoaling and active by day. Bristlenose plecos are the best pleco for a normal-sized tank. Otocinclus are superb algae grazers for planted tanks but need a mature setup. Avoid large or predatory catfish in a community of small fish.

Do plecos need driftwood?

Many do. Bristlenose and several other plecos rasp on wood to aid digestion and graze the biofilm it grows, and keepers often find them healthier with bogwood present. It is not universal — check the species — but for the common home-aquarium plecos, a piece of driftwood is strongly recommended.

Is it safe to buy catfish and plecos online?

Yes. Catfish and plecos are hardy shippers: each is bagged in oxygen-charged water inside a polystyrene-insulated box, sent midweek by a licensed live-animal courier so it never sits over a weekend. Every order is covered by our photo-proof live arrival guarantee.

Catfish & Plecos for Sale UK

Aquarium catfish and plecos for sale UK — Corydoras, Bristlenose, L-number rare plecos, Synodontis, Farlowella, Otocinclus.

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Every catfish and pleco on this page is a live fish held in our own system before dispatch — not a stock photo. We stock corydoras, bristlenose and fancy L-number plecos, synodontis, and other catfish, with new imports landing most weeks.

Catfish ship in oxygen-charged bags inside an insulated box, dispatched Tuesday or Wednesday with a licensed live-animal courier so your fish never sits over a weekend. Every order carries our live arrival guarantee: photograph any problem in the unopened bag within 2 hours and we refund or replace.

Catfish and plecos are the workers of the aquarium — bottom-dwellers that forage, graze algae and add real character. Sizes range from 3 cm dwarf corys to plecos that need a very large tank, so read the individual care guides linked below and match the adult size to your setup before ordering.

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Frequently asked questions

Partly. Bristlenose plecos and otocinclus genuinely graze algae, and corydoras hoover up leftover food from the substrate — but none of them are a substitute for water changes and filtration. They also need their own food; a 'clean-up crew' still has to be fed sinking wafers, algae tabs or vegetables.

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Care guides

Pleco Fish Care Guide: Plecostomus for UK Aquarists
Complete Plecostomus care guide — species overview, tank size, water parameters, diet, tank mates. Covers common pleco, bristlenose, clown pleco and more.

Buying guides

Tropical Fish for Sale UK — all species

Free Care Guide

Complete Catfish & Plecos Care Guide

Tank setup, diet, water parameters and tank-mate compatibility, backed by cited sources.

Read Guide