Can peacock cichlids live with hatchetfish?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Peacock cichlids and hatchetfish can share a tank, but watch one thing. Different water: peacock cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6, hatchetfish want pH 5.5–7.5.

Peacock cichlid76–82°F · pH 7.8–8.6

Hatchetfish75–81°F · pH 5.5–7.5

What to watch

Watch outDifferent water: peacock cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6, hatchetfish want pH 5.5–7.5.
Watch outA grown peacock cichlid may treat small hatchetfish as food, especially at night.

What works

Both are fine at 76–81°F.
They use different parts of the tank: peacock cichlids the mid, hatchetfish the top.

Water side by side

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

No pH suits both. One would live in the wrong water all the time.

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

	Peacock cichlid	Hatchetfish
Temperature	76–82 °F	75–81 °F
pH	7.8–8.6	5.5–7.5
Adult size	6.0 in	1.5 in
Minimum tank	55 gal	20 gal
Temperament	Semi-aggressive	Peaceful
Swims at	Middle	Top
Group	Groups of 4+	Groups of 6+
Diet	Carnivore	Carnivore

Better tank mates for peacock cichlids

All peacock cichlid tank mates

Better tank mates for hatchetfish

All hatchetfish tank mates

Questions

Can peacock cichlids live with hatchetfish?

Yes, with care. Peacock cichlids and hatchetfish can share a tank, but watch one thing. Different water: peacock cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6, hatchetfish want pH 5.5–7.5.

What temperature suits both peacock cichlids and hatchetfish?

76–81 °F. Peacock cichlids need 76–82 °F, hatchetfish need 75–81 °F.

What size tank do peacock cichlids and hatchetfish need together?

At least 55 gal, set by the peacock cichlid. Add space for each extra fish.