Can koi live with convict cichlids?

Verdict

No. Koi and convict cichlids should not share a tank. Koi are coldwater animals (59–77°F); convict cichlids need 74–82°F. They overlap only at 74–77°F, the edge of both ranges.

Koi59–77°F · pH 7–8.5

Convict cichlid74–82°F · pH 6.6–7.8

What to watch

Deal breakerKoi are coldwater animals (59–77°F); convict cichlids need 74–82°F. They overlap only at 74–77°F, the edge of both ranges.
Watch outA grown koi may treat small convict cichlids as food, especially at night.
Watch outConvict cichlids are aggressive, though koi are big enough to shrug most of it off.

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

	Koi	Convict cichlid
Temperature	59–77 °F	74–82 °F
pH	7–8.5	6.6–7.8
Adult size	24.0 in	5.0 in
Minimum tank	Pond	30 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Aggressive
Swims at	All levels	Bottom
Group	Groups of 3+	Alone or in pairs
Diet	Omnivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for koi

All koi tank mates

Better tank mates for convict cichlids

All convict cichlid tank mates

Questions

Can koi live with convict cichlids?

No. Koi and convict cichlids should not share a tank. Koi are coldwater animals (59–77°F); convict cichlids need 74–82°F. They overlap only at 74–77°F, the edge of both ranges.

What temperature suits both koi and convict cichlids?

74–77 °F. Koi need 59–77 °F, convict cichlids need 74–82 °F.

What size tank do koi and convict cichlids need together?

A pond. Koi outgrow indoor tanks.