African cichlid tank mates

Good matches

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The safest picks for african cichlids are mystery snails, ghost shrimp and cherry shrimp. Each match shares african cichlids' temperature and pH and leaves them alone.

Lake Malawi mbuna need hard alkaline water and a crowded rock pile to spread aggression.

Temperature

75–82°F

pH

7.8–8.6

Temperament

Aggressive

Minimum tank

55 gal

With care

22

Avoid

69

Good tank mates

• Mystery snail75–82°F
• Ghost shrimp75–82°F
• Cherry shrimp75–80°F
• Nerite snail75–78°F
• Crayfish75–77°F
• Assassin snail75–80°F
• Ramshorn snail75–80°F

Possible, with care

• Rainbow shark Different water: rainbow sharks want pH 6.5–7.5, african cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6.
• Common pleco Different water: african cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6, plecos want pH 6.5–7.5.
• Peacock cichlid African cichlids are aggressive. Peacock cichlids hold their own only in a big tank with places to hide.
• Convict cichlid Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.8.
• Yoyo loach Different water: african cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6, yoyo loaches want pH 6–7.5.
• Blue gourami African cichlids are aggressive. Blue gouramis hold their own only in a big tank with places to hide.
• Firemouth cichlid African cichlids are aggressive. Firemouth cichlids hold their own only in a big tank with places to hide.
• Electric yellow cichlid African cichlids are aggressive. Yellow labs hold their own only in a big tank with places to hide.
• Bala shark Different water: african cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6, bala sharks want pH 6.5–7.5.
• Electric blue acara Different water: african cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6, electric blue acaras want pH 6.5–7.5.
• Swordtail African cichlids are aggressive. Swordtails hold their own only in a big tank with places to hide.
• Kissing gourami African cichlids are aggressive. Kissing gouramis hold their own only in a big tank with places to hide.
• Red tail shark Different water: red tail sharks want pH 6.5–7.5, african cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6.
• Bamboo shrimp Different water: african cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6, bamboo shrimp want pH 6.5–7.5.
• Pictus catfish Different water: african cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6, pictus catfish want pH 6–7.5.
• African dwarf frog Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.8.
• Amano shrimp Different water: amano shrimp want pH 6.5–7.5, african cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6.
• Kribensis Different water: african cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6, kribensis want pH 6–7.5.
• Chinese algae eater African cichlids are aggressive. Chinese algae eaters hold their own only in a big tank with places to hide.
• Paradise fish African cichlids are aggressive. Paradise fish hold their own only in a big tank with places to hide.
• Tinfoil barb Different water: african cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6, tinfoil barbs want pH 6.5–7.5.
• Rosy barb Different water: african cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6, rosy barbs want pH 6–7.5.

Avoid

• Angelfish African cichlids are aggressive, and slow, long-finned angelfish cannot escape them.
• Oscar An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 5 inches african cichlids do.
• Tiger barb African cichlids are aggressive and much bigger than tiger barbs.
• Goldfish Goldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); african cichlids need 75–82°F. No temperature suits both.
• Clown loach African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful clown loaches.
• Discus Different water: discus want pH 5.5–7, african cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6.
• Betta African cichlids are aggressive, and slow, long-finned bettas cannot escape them.
• Axolotl Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); african cichlids need 75–82°F. No temperature suits both.
• Pea puffer Both are aggressive, and african cichlids are much bigger, so pea puffers lose.
• Kuhli loach Different water: kuhli loaches want pH 5.5–7, african cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6.
• Guppy African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful guppies.
• Molly African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful mollies.
• Bristlenose pleco African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful bristlenose plecos.
• Boesemani rainbowfish African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful boesemani rainbowfish.
• Honey gourami African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful honey gouramis.
• Bichir An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 5 inches african cichlids do.
• Jack Dempsey Both are aggressive, and jack dempseys are much bigger, so african cichlids lose.
• Congo tetra African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful congo tetras.
• Silver dollar Different water: african cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6, silver dollars want pH 5–7.
• Severum Different water: african cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6, severums want pH 6–7.
• Apistogramma Different water: african cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6, apistogramma want pH 5–7.
• Pearl gourami African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful pearl gouramis.
• Platy African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful platies.
• Corydoras African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful corydoras.
• Black ghost knife An adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 5 inches african cichlids do.
• Rummy nose tetra Different water: african cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6, rummy nose tetras want pH 5.5–7.
• Sparkling gourami African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful sparkling gouramis.
• Clown pleco African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful clown plecos.
• Elephant nose fish African cichlids are aggressive, and slow, long-finned elephant nose fish cannot escape them.
• Neon tetra Different water: neon tetras want pH 6–7, african cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6.
• Ember tetra Different water: african cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6, ember tetras want pH 5.5–7.
• Dwarf gourami African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful dwarf gouramis.
• Chili rasbora Different water: african cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6, chili rasboras want pH 4–7.
• Cherry barb African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful cherry barbs.
• Dwarf neon rainbowfish African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful dwarf neon rainbowfish.
• Endler's livebearer African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful endlers.
• Lemon tetra African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful lemon tetras.
• Pencilfish African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful pencilfish.
• Cardinal tetra Different water: african cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6, cardinal tetras want pH 4.6–7.
• Glass catfish African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful glass catfish.
• Blood parrot African cichlids are aggressive, and slow, long-finned blood parrots cannot escape them.
• Silver arowana Different water: african cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6, arowanas want pH 6–7.
• Siamese algae eater African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful siamese algae eaters.
• Black skirt tetra African cichlids are aggressive and much bigger than black skirt tetras.
• Hatchetfish African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful hatchetfish.
• Bolivian ram African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful bolivian rams.
• Harlequin rasbora African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful harlequin rasboras.
• Black neon tetra African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful black neon tetras.
• Upside down catfish African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful upside down catfish.
• Koi Koi are coldwater animals (59–77°F); african cichlids need 75–82°F. They overlap only at 75–77°F, the edge of both ranges.
• GloFish tetra African cichlids are aggressive and much bigger than glofish.
• Otocinclus African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful otocinclus.
• Celestial pearl danio African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful celestial pearl danios.
• Glowlight tetra African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful glowlight tetras.
• Odessa barb African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful odessa barbs.
• Zebra loach African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful zebra loaches.
• Serpae tetra African cichlids are aggressive and much bigger than serpae tetras.
• Zebra danio African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful zebra danios.
• German blue ram Different water: rams want pH 5–7, african cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6.
• Zebra pleco African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful zebra plecos.
• Dojo loach African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful dojo loaches.
• Flowerhorn An adult flowerhorn eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 5 inches african cichlids do.
• Pygmy cory African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful pygmy corys.
• Killifish Different water: african cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6, killifish want pH 5.5–7.
• Panda cory African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful panda corys.
• Hillstream loach African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful hillstream loaches.
• White cloud minnow White cloud minnows are coldwater animals (60–72°F); african cichlids need 75–82°F. No temperature suits both.
• Gold barb African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful gold barbs.
• Fancy goldfish Fancy goldfish are coldwater animals (65–74°F); african cichlids need 75–82°F. No temperature suits both.

Planning a mixed tank? The tank mate checker tests every pair at once. Or read the african cichlid care sheet.