TankmateChecker

Can angelfish live with african cichlids?

Verdict

No

No. Angelfish and african cichlids should not share a tank. African cichlids are aggressive, and slow, long-finned angelfish cannot escape them.

Angelfish

Angelfish76–84°F · pH 6–7.5

African cichlid

African cichlid75–82°F · pH 7.8–8.6

What to watch

Deal breakerAfrican cichlids are aggressive, and slow, long-finned angelfish cannot escape them.
Watch outDifferent water: angelfish want pH 6–7.5, african cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6.

What works

Both are fine at 76–82°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

	Angelfish	African cichlid
Temperature	76–84 °F	75–82 °F
pH	6–7.5	7.8–8.6
Adult size	6.0 in	5.0 in
Minimum tank	30 gal	55 gal
Temperament	Semi-aggressive	Aggressive
Swims at	Middle	All levels
Group	Alone or in pairs	Groups of 6+
Diet	Omnivore	Herbivore

Better tank mates for angelfish

All angelfish tank mates

Better tank mates for african cichlids

All african cichlid tank mates

Questions

Can angelfish live with african cichlids?

No. Angelfish and african cichlids should not share a tank. African cichlids are aggressive, and slow, long-finned angelfish cannot escape them.

What temperature suits both angelfish and african cichlids?

76–82 °F. Angelfish need 76–84 °F, african cichlids need 75–82 °F.

What size tank do angelfish and african cichlids need together?

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