Can flowerhorns live with chinese algae eaters?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Flowerhorns and chinese algae eaters can share a tank, but watch one thing. They only share 80°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.

Flowerhorn80–89°F · pH 7–8

Chinese algae eater74–80°F · pH 6–8

What to watch

Watch outThey only share 80°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.
Watch outFlowerhorns are aggressive. Chinese algae eaters hold their own only in a big tank with places to hide.

What works

pH 7–8 suits both.
They use different parts of the tank: flowerhorns the mid, chinese algae eaters the bottom.

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

	Flowerhorn	Chinese algae eater
Temperature	80–89 °F	74–80 °F
pH	7–8	6–8
Adult size	12.0 in	10.0 in
Minimum tank	75 gal	75 gal
Temperament	Aggressive	Semi-aggressive
Swims at	Middle	Bottom
Group	One per tank	Alone or in pairs
Diet	Carnivore	Herbivore

Better tank mates for chinese algae eaters

All chinese algae eater tank mates

Questions

Can flowerhorns live with chinese algae eaters?

Yes, with care. Flowerhorns and chinese algae eaters can share a tank, but watch one thing. They only share 80°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.

What temperature suits both flowerhorns and chinese algae eaters?

80–80 °F. Flowerhorns need 80–89 °F, chinese algae eaters need 74–80 °F.

What size tank do flowerhorns and chinese algae eaters need together?

At least 75 gal, set by the flowerhorn. Add space for each extra fish.