Can african cichlids live with pictus catfish?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. African cichlids and pictus catfish can share a tank, but watch one thing. Different water: african cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6, pictus catfish want pH 6–7.5.

African cichlid75–82°F · pH 7.8–8.6

Pictus catfish72–79°F · pH 6–7.5

What to watch

Watch outDifferent water: african cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6, pictus catfish want pH 6–7.5.
Watch outAfrican cichlids are aggressive. Pictus catfish hold their own only in a big tank with places to hide.

What works

Both are fine at 75–79°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	Pictus catfish
Temperature	75–82 °F	72–79 °F
pH	7.8–8.6	6–7.5
Adult size	5.0 in	5.0 in
Minimum tank	55 gal	55 gal
Temperament	Aggressive	Semi-aggressive
Swims at	All levels	Bottom
Group	Groups of 6+	Groups of 3+
Diet	Herbivore	Carnivore

Better tank mates for african cichlids

All african cichlid tank mates

Better tank mates for pictus catfish

All pictus catfish tank mates

Questions

Can african cichlids live with pictus catfish?

Yes, with care. African cichlids and pictus catfish can share a tank, but watch one thing. Different water: african cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6, pictus catfish want pH 6–7.5.

What temperature suits both african cichlids and pictus catfish?

75–79 °F. African cichlids need 75–82 °F, pictus catfish need 72–79 °F.

What size tank do african cichlids and pictus catfish need together?

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