Can convict cichlids live with fancy goldfish?

Verdict

No. Convict cichlids and fancy goldfish should not share a tank. Fancy goldfish are coldwater animals (65–74°F); convict cichlids need 74–82°F. They meet only at 74°F, the edge of both ranges.

Convict cichlid74–82°F · pH 6.6–7.8

Fancy goldfish65–74°F · pH 7–8

What to watch

Deal breakerFancy goldfish are coldwater animals (65–74°F); convict cichlids need 74–82°F. They meet only at 74°F, the edge of both ranges.
Deal breakerConvict cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful fancy goldfish.

What works

pH 7–7.8 suits both.

Water side by side

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

The green band is the pH both tolerate.

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

	Convict cichlid	Fancy goldfish
Temperature	74–82 °F	65–74 °F
pH	6.6–7.8	7–8
Adult size	5.0 in	6.0 in
Minimum tank	30 gal	30 gal
Temperament	Aggressive	Peaceful
Swims at	Bottom	All levels
Group	Alone or in pairs	Alone or in pairs
Diet	Omnivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for convict cichlids

All convict cichlid tank mates

Better tank mates for fancy goldfish

All fancy goldfish tank mates

Questions

Can convict cichlids live with fancy goldfish?

No. Convict cichlids and fancy goldfish should not share a tank. Fancy goldfish are coldwater animals (65–74°F); convict cichlids need 74–82°F. They meet only at 74°F, the edge of both ranges.

What temperature suits both convict cichlids and fancy goldfish?

74–74 °F. Convict cichlids need 74–82 °F, fancy goldfish need 65–74 °F.

What size tank do convict cichlids and fancy goldfish need together?

At least 30 gal, set by the convict cichlid. Add space for each extra fish.