What Is an Aquarium Fish to Go With a Cichlid?

Cichlids are a very diverse species of fish that many people purchase for their aquariums. Cichlids range from very large to small and vary in color and shape. Cichlids are often very aggressive with other fish in an aquarium. However, certain species of fish, such as tetra, are compatible with cichlids.

  1. More About Cichlids

    • More than 1,300 species of cichlids exist, and some scientists believe that the number may be up to 3,000. Most species live in freshwater environments, such as rivers and lakes, although some can tolerate brackish and even saltwater environments. Cichlids are largely herbivores, feeding on plants and algae. However, some cichlids are voracious carnivores.

    Cichlids in Aquariums

    • The most common aquarium cichlid species are the angelfish, discus, oscar, African cichlid and convict cichlid. All of those species are freshwater fish. Cichlids mostly prefer a warm water environment with temperatures between 79 and 84 degrees F. They also prefer a slightly alkaline environment with a pH between 7.4 and 8.0. Cichlids are fairly easy to take care of, requiring only a regular feeding of flakes or pellets and maintenance of water conditions.

    Tetra, Dither Fish and Other Species

    • Tetra is one species of fish that is highly compatible with cichlids. They are similarly diverse, small in size, enjoy the same water conditions and behave somewhat like cichlids. Tetras will not prey on cichlids, nor will cichlids prey on tetras, although either species may nibble at the fins of smaller fish in the other species, so only tetras and cichlids of similar size should be in a tank together. Cichlids tend to behave timidly around certain fish. For timid cichlid species, include dither fish in the aquarium. Dither fish are species such as barbs, Danio and tetra that timid cichlids respond well to and will cohabitate with easily in a tank.

    Other Precautions

    • Large, aggressive cichlids species, such as angelfish and African cichlids, do well when placed with similarly aggressive species of comparable size. However, you should avoid placing different species of cichlids with similar characteristics in the same tank. Similar cichlid species will behave far more aggressively with each other than cichlid species that look very different. Similar cichlid species may attempt to crossbreed (which is why you should only have one sex or the other, and not both, in the tank).