Firemouth cichlid Tank Mates
Short answer: the best firemouth cichlid tank mates are Dwarf gourami, Molly, Nerite snail, Mystery snail, Pearl gourami, Swordtail. Firemouth cichlids need 68–90 °F (20–32 °C), pH 6.5–8.5 and at least 40 gallons.
Firemouth cichlid care at a glance
| Adult size | 5.9 in (15 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 40 US gallons |
| Temperature | 68–90 °F (20–32 °C) |
| pH | 6.5–8.5 |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive |
| Swims in | Bottom |
| Group size | Can be kept singly or in pairs |
| Care level | Easy |
gallon tank
✅ Compatible tank mates (15)
⚠️ Possible with caution (33)
- Betta fish — Firemouth cichlid is a much larger territorial fish and may bully betta fish.
- Guppy — An adult firemouth cichlid (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller guppy (6 cm), especially at night.
- Bristlenose pleco — Firemouth cichlid defends a territory near the bottom (especially when breeding) and may chase bristlenose pleco.
- Fancy goldfish — Goldfish are coldwater fish that produce a lot of waste; they are usually kept only with other goldfish.
- Harlequin rasbora — An adult firemouth cichlid (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller harlequin rasbora (5 cm), especially at night.
- Platy — An adult firemouth cichlid (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller platy (6 cm), especially at night.
- Tiger barb — Firemouth cichlid is a much larger territorial fish and may bully tiger barb.
- Otocinclus — An adult firemouth cichlid (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller otocinclus (4 cm), especially at night.
- Panda cory — An adult firemouth cichlid (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller panda cory (5 cm), especially at night.
- Black skirt tetra — An adult firemouth cichlid (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller black skirt tetra (6 cm), especially at night.
- Bronze cory — Firemouth cichlid is a much larger territorial fish and may bully bronze cory.
- Cherry barb — An adult firemouth cichlid (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller cherry barb (5 cm), especially at night.
- Glowlight tetra — An adult firemouth cichlid (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller glowlight tetra (4 cm), especially at night.
- Honey gourami — An adult firemouth cichlid (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller honey gourami (5.5 cm), especially at night.
- Kuhli loach — Firemouth cichlid defends a territory near the bottom (especially when breeding) and may chase kuhli loach.
- Rummy nose tetra — An adult firemouth cichlid (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller rummy nose tetra (5 cm), especially at night.
- Serpae tetra — An adult firemouth cichlid (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller serpae tetra (4.5 cm), especially at night.
- White cloud mountain minnow — An adult firemouth cichlid (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller white cloud mountain minnow (4 cm), especially at night.
- Zebra danio — An adult firemouth cichlid (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller zebra danio (5 cm), especially at night.
- Clown loach — Firemouth cichlid defends a territory near the bottom (especially when breeding) and may chase clown loach.
- Sparkling gourami — An adult firemouth cichlid (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller sparkling gourami (4 cm), especially at night.
- Black neon tetra — An adult firemouth cichlid (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller black neon tetra (4 cm), especially at night.
- Bloodfin tetra — An adult firemouth cichlid (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller bloodfin tetra (5.5 cm), especially at night.
- Forktail blue-eye — An adult firemouth cichlid (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller forktail blue-eye (6 cm), especially at night.
- Glass catfish — Firemouth cichlid is a much larger territorial fish and may bully glass catfish.
- Lemon tetra — An adult firemouth cichlid (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller lemon tetra (5 cm), especially at night.
- Paradise fish — Paradise fish is aggressive; firemouth cichlid may get into fights with it.
- Peppered cory — Firemouth cichlid is a much larger territorial fish and may bully peppered cory.
- Sterbai cory — Firemouth cichlid is a much larger territorial fish and may bully sterbai cory.
- X-ray tetra — An adult firemouth cichlid (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller X-ray tetra (4.5 cm), especially at night.
- Buenos Aires tetra — Firemouth cichlid is a much larger territorial fish and may bully Buenos Aires tetra.
- Gold barb — Firemouth cichlid is a much larger territorial fish and may bully gold barb.
- Odessa barb — An adult firemouth cichlid (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller Odessa barb (6 cm), especially at night.
❌ Not recommended (23)
- Cherry shrimp — Firemouth cichlid will hunt and eat cherry shrimp.
- Neon tetra — An adult firemouth cichlid (up to 15 cm) is big enough to eat neon tetra (3.5 cm).
- Oscar — Oscar is aggressive and much larger than firemouth cichlid; it will bully or injure it.
- Pea puffer — An adult firemouth cichlid (up to 15 cm) is big enough to eat pea puffer (3 cm).
- Amano shrimp — Firemouth cichlid will hunt and eat Amano shrimp.
- Celestial pearl danio — An adult firemouth cichlid (up to 15 cm) is big enough to eat celestial pearl danio (2.5 cm).
- Chili rasbora — An adult firemouth cichlid (up to 15 cm) is big enough to eat chili rasbora (2 cm).
- Ember tetra — An adult firemouth cichlid (up to 15 cm) is big enough to eat ember tetra (2 cm).
- Endler's livebearer — An adult firemouth cichlid (up to 15 cm) is big enough to eat Endler's livebearer (3 cm).
- Cardinal tetra — An adult firemouth cichlid (up to 15 cm) is big enough to eat cardinal tetra (3.5 cm).
- German blue ram — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Kribensis — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Electric yellow cichlid — Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid: it needs hard, alkaline water and an African-cichlid community, and is too boisterous for firemouth cichlid.
- 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 — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Common pleco — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Pygmy cory — An adult firemouth cichlid (up to 15 cm) is big enough to eat pygmy cory (3 cm).
- Cockatoo dwarf cichlid — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Convict cichlid — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Bolivian ram — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Chinese algae eater — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Jack Dempsey — Jack Dempsey is aggressive and much larger than firemouth cichlid; it will bully or injure it.
How many firemouth cichlids per tank?
40 gal 55 gal 75 gal — see what else fits with our stocking calculator.
FAQ
What fish can live with firemouth cichlids?
Good matches include Dwarf gourami, Molly, Nerite snail, Mystery snail, Pearl gourami, Swordtail. They share a temperature range with firemouth cichlids (68–90 °F (20–32 °C)), are a similar temperament, and are not big enough to eat each other or nip fins.
What fish should not live with firemouth cichlids?
Avoid Cherry shrimp, Neon tetra, Oscar, Pea puffer, Amano shrimp, Celestial pearl danio.
What size tank do firemouth cichlids need?
We recommend at least 40 US gallons for one firemouth cichlid, more if you add tank mates.
Can firemouth cichlids live alone?
Yes. Firemouth 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.