Can neon tetras live with firemouth cichlids?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Neon tetras and firemouth cichlids can share a tank, but watch one thing. A grown firemouth cichlid may treat small neon tetras as food, especially at night.

Neon tetra72–79°F · pH 6–7

Firemouth cichlid75–86°F · pH 6.5–8

What to watch

Watch outA grown firemouth cichlid may treat small neon tetras as food, especially at night.

What works

Both are fine at 75–79°F.
pH 6.5–7 suits both.
They use different parts of the tank: neon tetras the mid, firemouth cichlids 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

	Neon tetra	Firemouth cichlid
Temperature	72–79 °F	75–86 °F
pH	6–7	6.5–8
Adult size	1.5 in	6.0 in
Minimum tank	10 gal	30 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Semi-aggressive
Swims at	Middle	Bottom
Group	Groups of 6+	Alone or in pairs
Diet	Omnivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for neon tetras

All neon tetra tank mates

Better tank mates for firemouth cichlids

All firemouth cichlid tank mates

Questions

Can neon tetras live with firemouth cichlids?

Yes, with care. Neon tetras and firemouth cichlids can share a tank, but watch one thing. A grown firemouth cichlid may treat small neon tetras as food, especially at night.

What temperature suits both neon tetras and firemouth cichlids?

75–79 °F. Neon tetras need 72–79 °F, firemouth cichlids need 75–86 °F.

What size tank do neon tetras and firemouth cichlids need together?

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