Can peacock cichlids live with tinfoil barbs?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Peacock cichlids and tinfoil barbs can share a tank, but watch one thing. Different water: peacock cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6, tinfoil barbs want pH 6.5–7.5.

Peacock cichlid76–82°F · pH 7.8–8.6

Tinfoil barb72–80°F · pH 6.5–7.5

What to watch

Watch outDifferent water: peacock cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6, tinfoil barbs want pH 6.5–7.5.

What works

Both are fine at 76–80°F.

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	Tinfoil barb
Temperature	76–82 °F	72–80 °F
pH	7.8–8.6	6.5–7.5
Adult size	6.0 in	12.0 in
Minimum tank	55 gal	125 gal
Temperament	Semi-aggressive	Peaceful
Swims at	Middle	Middle
Group	Groups of 4+	Groups of 5+
Diet	Carnivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for peacock cichlids

All peacock cichlid tank mates

Better tank mates for tinfoil barbs

All tinfoil barb tank mates

Questions

Can peacock cichlids live with tinfoil barbs?

Yes, with care. Peacock cichlids and tinfoil barbs can share a tank, but watch one thing. Different water: peacock cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6, tinfoil barbs want pH 6.5–7.5.

What temperature suits both peacock cichlids and tinfoil barbs?

76–80 °F. Peacock cichlids need 76–82 °F, tinfoil barbs need 72–80 °F.

What size tank do peacock cichlids and tinfoil barbs need together?

At least 125 gal, set by the tinfoil barb. Add space for each extra fish.