Can red tail sharks live with peacock cichlids?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Red tail sharks and peacock cichlids can share a tank, but watch one thing. Different water: red tail sharks want pH 6.5–7.5, peacock cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6.

Red tail shark72–79°F · pH 6.5–7.5

Peacock cichlid76–82°F · pH 7.8–8.6

What to watch

Watch outDifferent water: red tail sharks want pH 6.5–7.5, peacock cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6.

What works

Both are fine at 76–79°F.
They use different parts of the tank: red tail sharks the bottom, peacock cichlids the mid.

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

	Red tail shark	Peacock cichlid
Temperature	72–79 °F	76–82 °F
pH	6.5–7.5	7.8–8.6
Adult size	5.0 in	6.0 in
Minimum tank	55 gal	55 gal
Temperament	Semi-aggressive	Semi-aggressive
Swims at	Bottom	Middle
Group	One per tank	Groups of 4+
Diet	Omnivore	Carnivore

Better tank mates for red tail sharks

All red tail shark tank mates

Better tank mates for peacock cichlids

All peacock cichlid tank mates

Questions

Can red tail sharks live with peacock cichlids?

Yes, with care. Red tail sharks and peacock cichlids can share a tank, but watch one thing. Different water: red tail sharks want pH 6.5–7.5, peacock cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6.

What temperature suits both red tail sharks and peacock cichlids?

76–79 °F. Red tail sharks need 72–79 °F, peacock cichlids need 76–82 °F.

What size tank do red tail sharks and peacock cichlids need together?

At least 55 gal, set by the red tail shark. Add space for each extra fish.