Convict cichlid Tank Mates
Short answer: the best convict cichlid tank mates are Mystery snail. Convict cichlids need 75–82 °F (24–28 °C), pH 6–8 and at least 30 gallons.
Convict cichlid care at a glance
| Adult size | 5.9 in (15 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 30 US gallons |
| Temperature | 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) |
| pH | 6–8 |
| Temperament | Aggressive |
| Swims in | Bottom |
| Group size | Can be kept singly or in pairs |
| Care level | Easy |
gallon tank
✅ Compatible tank mates (1)
⚠️ Possible with caution (4)
- Angelfish — Convict cichlid is aggressive; angelfish may get into fights with it.
- Nerite snail — Very narrow shared temperature range: Convict cichlid 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Nerite snail 22–25 °C (72–77 °F).
- Swordtail — Convict cichlid is aggressive; swordtail may get into fights with it.
- Three spot gourami — Convict cichlid is aggressive; three spot gourami may get into fights with it.
❌ Not recommended (66)
- Cherry shrimp — Convict cichlid will hunt and eat cherry shrimp.
- Betta fish — Convict cichlid is aggressive and much larger than betta fish; it will bully or injure it.
- Dwarf gourami — Convict cichlid is aggressive and much larger than dwarf gourami; it will bully or injure it.
- Guppy — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful guppy.
- Bristlenose pleco — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful bristlenose pleco.
- Fancy goldfish — Coldwater and tropical fish don't mix: Convict cichlid 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Fancy goldfish 20–23 °C (68–73 °F).
- Harlequin rasbora — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful harlequin rasbora.
- Molly — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful molly.
- Neon tetra — An adult convict cichlid (up to 15 cm) is big enough to eat neon tetra (3.5 cm).
- Platy — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful platy.
- Tiger barb — Convict cichlid is aggressive and much larger than tiger barb; it will bully or injure it.
- Oscar — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Pea puffer — An adult convict cichlid (up to 15 cm) is big enough to eat pea puffer (3 cm).
- Amano shrimp — Convict cichlid will hunt and eat Amano shrimp.
- Celestial pearl danio — An adult convict cichlid (up to 15 cm) is big enough to eat celestial pearl danio (2.5 cm).
- Chili rasbora — An adult convict cichlid (up to 15 cm) is big enough to eat chili rasbora (2 cm).
- Ember tetra — An adult convict cichlid (up to 15 cm) is big enough to eat ember tetra (2 cm).
- Endler's livebearer — An adult convict cichlid (up to 15 cm) is big enough to eat Endler's livebearer (3 cm).
- Otocinclus — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful otocinclus.
- Panda cory — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful panda cory.
- Black skirt tetra — Convict cichlid is aggressive and much larger than black skirt tetra; it will bully or injure it.
- Bronze cory — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful bronze cory.
- Cardinal tetra — An adult convict cichlid (up to 15 cm) is big enough to eat cardinal tetra (3.5 cm).
- Cherry barb — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful cherry barb.
- German blue ram — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful German blue ram.
- Glowlight tetra — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful glowlight tetra.
- Honey gourami — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful honey gourami.
- Kuhli loach — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful kuhli loach.
- Rummy nose tetra — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful rummy nose tetra.
- Serpae tetra — Convict cichlid is aggressive and much larger than serpae tetra; it will bully or injure it.
- White cloud mountain minnow — Coldwater and tropical fish don't mix: Convict cichlid 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs White cloud mountain minnow 14–22 °C (57–72 °F).
- Zebra danio — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful zebra danio.
- Kribensis — Convict cichlid is aggressive and much larger than kribensis; it will bully or injure it.
- Pearl gourami — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful pearl gourami.
- Electric yellow cichlid — Convict cichlid is aggressive and much larger than electric yellow cichlid; it will bully or injure it.
- Discus — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful discus.
- Rainbow shark — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Red tail shark — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Siamese algae eater — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful Siamese algae eater.
- Common pleco — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful common pleco.
- Clown loach — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful clown loach.
- Pygmy cory — An adult convict cichlid (up to 15 cm) is big enough to eat pygmy cory (3 cm).
- Sparkling gourami — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful sparkling gourami.
- Black neon tetra — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful black neon tetra.
- Bloodfin tetra — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful bloodfin tetra.
- Cockatoo dwarf cichlid — Convict cichlid is aggressive and much larger than cockatoo dwarf cichlid; it will bully or injure it.
- Dwarf neon rainbowfish — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful dwarf neon rainbowfish.
- Forktail blue-eye — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful forktail blue-eye.
- Glass catfish — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful glass catfish.
- Lemon tetra — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful lemon tetra.
- Paradise fish — No comfortable shared temperature: Convict cichlid 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Paradise fish 10–22 °C (50–72 °F).
- Peppered cory — No comfortable shared temperature: Convict cichlid 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Peppered cory 20–24 °C (68–75 °F).
- Sterbai cory — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful sterbai cory.
- X-ray tetra — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful X-ray tetra.
- Buenos Aires tetra — Convict cichlid is aggressive and much larger than Buenos Aires tetra; it will bully or injure it.
- Congo tetra — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful Congo tetra.
- Gold barb — No comfortable shared temperature: Convict cichlid 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Gold barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F).
- Odessa barb — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful Odessa barb.
- Rosy barb — No comfortable shared temperature: Convict cichlid 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Rosy barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F).
- Upside-down catfish — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful upside-down catfish.
- Firemouth cichlid — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Boesemani rainbowfish — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful Boesemani rainbowfish.
- Bolivian ram — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful Bolivian ram.
- Chinese algae eater — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Jack Dempsey — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Bala shark — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful bala shark.
How many convict cichlids per tank?
40 gal 55 gal 75 gal — see what else fits with our stocking calculator.
FAQ
What fish can live with convict cichlids?
Good matches include Mystery snail. They share a temperature range with convict cichlids (75–82 °F (24–28 °C)), are a similar temperament, and are not big enough to eat each other or nip fins.
What fish should not live with convict cichlids?
Avoid Cherry shrimp, Betta fish, Dwarf gourami, Guppy, Bristlenose pleco, Fancy goldfish.
What size tank do convict cichlids need?
We recommend at least 30 US gallons for one convict cichlid, more if you add tank mates.
Can convict cichlids live alone?
Yes. Convict cichlids do not need a group, though they can be kept with compatible tank mates.
Note: Compatibility depends on individual temperament, tank size, decor and how fish are introduced. Our verdicts use conservative rules applied to published care data (see methodology). They are guidance, not a guarantee. Quarantine new fish and watch for chasing, torn fins or hiding.