Convict cichlid tank mates

Good matches

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The safest picks for convict cichlids are mystery snails, crayfish and ramshorn snails. Each match shares convict cichlids' temperature and pH and leaves them alone.

Breeds readily and defends its fry hard. Pairs can clear a tank.

Temperature

74–82°F

pH

6.6–7.8

Temperament

Aggressive

Minimum tank

30 gal

With care

22

Avoid

71

Good tank mates

• Mystery snail74–82°F
• Crayfish74–77°F
• Ramshorn snail74–80°F
• Nerite snail74–78°F
• Assassin snail75–80°F

Possible, with care

• Blue gourami Convict cichlids are aggressive. Blue gouramis hold their own only in a big tank with places to hide.
• Bala shark Convict cichlids are aggressive, though bala sharks are big enough to shrug most of it off.
• Kissing gourami Convict cichlids are aggressive. Kissing gouramis hold their own only in a big tank with places to hide.
• Electric blue acara Convict cichlids are aggressive. Electric blue acaras hold their own only in a big tank with places to hide.
• Paradise fish Convict cichlids are aggressive. Paradise fish hold their own only in a big tank with places to hide.
• Severum Convict cichlids are aggressive. Severums hold their own only in a big tank with places to hide.
• Firemouth cichlid Convict cichlids are aggressive. Firemouth cichlids hold their own only in a big tank with places to hide.
• Yoyo loach Convict cichlids are aggressive. Yoyo loaches hold their own only in a big tank with places to hide.
• African cichlid Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.8.
• Swordtail Convict cichlids are aggressive. Swordtails hold their own only in a big tank with places to hide.
• African dwarf frog African dwarf frogs eat slowly and nearly blind. Fast convict cichlids will take the food first, so target-feed them.
• Rainbow shark Convict cichlids are aggressive. Rainbow sharks hold their own only in a big tank with places to hide.
• Tinfoil barb Convict cichlids are aggressive, though tinfoil barbs are big enough to shrug most of it off.
• Common pleco Convict cichlids are aggressive, though plecos are big enough to shrug most of it off.
• Red tail shark Convict cichlids are aggressive. Red tail sharks hold their own only in a big tank with places to hide.
• Bamboo shrimp Convict cichlids will eat baby shrimp and may chase adults. Dense plants or moss give bamboo shrimp somewhere to hide.
• Pictus catfish Convict cichlids are aggressive. Pictus catfish hold their own only in a big tank with places to hide.
• Chinese algae eater Convict cichlids are aggressive. Chinese algae eaters hold their own only in a big tank with places to hide.
• Electric yellow cichlid Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.8.
• Rosy barb Convict cichlids are aggressive. Rosy barbs hold their own only in a big tank with places to hide.
• Peacock cichlid Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.8.
• Kribensis Convict cichlids are aggressive. Kribensis hold their own only in a big tank with places to hide.

Avoid

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

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