What Kind of Fish Are Compatible With Cichlids?

Cichlids belong to a diverse family of fish found in different habitat types. Cichlids live in both fresh and brackish water in South America, Africa and Asia. These fish have evolved to exploit specific niches, and they differ considerably in body shape, overall size, disposition, water quality requirements and feeding preferences. Virtually all cichlids are aggressive by nature, and the aquarist must select tank mates for these fish with great care. Hobbyists typically keep freshwater cichlids that originate in South America and Africa.

  1. Pacu

    • The pacu is a large vegetarian fish species from South America. These fish can often reach 30 inches in length, and their sheer size makes them suitable companion fish for the smaller but more aggressive South American cichlids. In nature, pacu occupy the same habitat as New World, or South American, cichlids, such as angelfish, oscars and discus. An aquarium including pacu and South American cichlids makes for a natural display of fish.

    Plecostomus

    • The plecostomus is a relatively large, heavily armored catfish species from South America. This fish grows to 18 inches in length and tends to rest on driftwood or on the aquarium bottom for long periods. The heavy armored scales and large size of the plecostomus protects this fish from the attentions of aggressive South American cichlids. The plecostomus can tolerate a range of water chemistry and can therefore alsoshare an aquarium with African or Asian cichlids.

    Tinfoil Barb

    • This fairly large barb originates in Asia and lives in Thailand, the Malayan peninsula, Borneo and Sumatra. The tinfoil barb grows to 14 inches in length and can share a space with a number of South American cichlids, including convict cichlid, firemouth cichlid, Jack Dempsey, oscars, Salvini cichlid and Texas cichlid. Limit tinfoil barbs to small groups of five fish; you can also house them with African cichlids.

    Red Tail Shark

    • This 6-inch-long fish, which originates in Thailand, is both extremely aggressive and hardy, making it a suitable candidate to include in cichlid aquariums. This species is hostile enough in temperament to hold its own in an aquarium with adult cichlids, provided these cichlids are not large enough to eat the red-tailed shark. Thousands of different African cichlid species exist, but the red tail shark, though relatively small, is aggressive enough to share an aquarium with most of these different types.