Can convict cichlids live with rainbow sharks?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Convict cichlids and rainbow sharks can share a tank, but watch one thing. Convict cichlids are aggressive. Rainbow sharks hold their own only in a big tank with places to hide.

Convict cichlid74–82°F · pH 6.6–7.8

Rainbow shark72–80°F · pH 6.5–7.5

What to watch

Watch outConvict cichlids are aggressive. Rainbow sharks hold their own only in a big tank with places to hide.
Watch outBoth claim territory on the bottom. Give each its own cave and plenty of floor space.
Watch outRainbow sharks chase other bottom fish out of their patch.

What works

Both are fine at 74–80°F.
pH 6.6–7.5 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	Rainbow shark
Temperature	74–82 °F	72–80 °F
pH	6.6–7.8	6.5–7.5
Adult size	5.0 in	6.0 in
Minimum tank	30 gal	55 gal
Temperament	Aggressive	Semi-aggressive
Swims at	Bottom	Bottom
Group	Alone or in pairs	One per tank
Diet	Omnivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for convict cichlids

All convict cichlid tank mates

Better tank mates for rainbow sharks

All rainbow shark tank mates

Questions

Can convict cichlids live with rainbow sharks?

Yes, with care. Convict cichlids and rainbow sharks can share a tank, but watch one thing. Convict cichlids are aggressive. Rainbow sharks hold their own only in a big tank with places to hide.

What temperature suits both convict cichlids and rainbow sharks?

74–80 °F. Convict cichlids need 74–82 °F, rainbow sharks need 72–80 °F.

What size tank do convict cichlids and rainbow sharks need together?

At least 55 gal, set by the rainbow shark. Add space for each extra fish.