Can african cichlids live with bamboo shrimp?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. African cichlids and bamboo shrimp can share a tank, but watch one thing. Different water: african cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6, bamboo shrimp want pH 6.5–7.5.

African cichlid75–82°F · pH 7.8–8.6

Bamboo shrimp72–82°F · pH 6.5–7.5

What to watch

Watch outDifferent water: african cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6, bamboo shrimp want pH 6.5–7.5.

What works

Both are fine at 75–82°F.

Water side by side

The green band is the temperature range both can live in.

No pH suits both. One would live in the wrong water all the time.

Size to scale

Adult length in an aquarium. A fish can swallow anything that fits in its mouth, roughly a third to half its own length for predators.

Care at a glance

	African cichlid	Bamboo shrimp
Temperature	75–82 °F	72–82 °F
pH	7.8–8.6	6.5–7.5
Adult size	5.0 in	3.0 in
Minimum tank	55 gal	20 gal
Temperament	Aggressive	Peaceful
Swims at	All levels	Bottom
Group	Groups of 6+	Alone or in pairs
Diet	Herbivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for african cichlids

All african cichlid tank mates

Better tank mates for bamboo shrimp

All bamboo shrimp tank mates

Questions

Can african cichlids live with bamboo shrimp?

Yes, with care. African cichlids and bamboo shrimp can share a tank, but watch one thing. Different water: african cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6, bamboo shrimp want pH 6.5–7.5.

What temperature suits both african cichlids and bamboo shrimp?

75–82 °F. African cichlids need 75–82 °F, bamboo shrimp need 72–82 °F.

What size tank do african cichlids and bamboo shrimp need together?

At least 55 gal, set by the african cichlid. Add space for each extra fish.