Tank mates for African dwarf frogs
We checked African dwarf frogs against all 149 other species in our database for water temperature, pH, size, fin nipping, predation and aggression.
Good tank mates for African dwarf frogs include betta fish, cherry shrimp, nerite snail, guppy, dwarf gourami and neon tetra. Avoid angelfish, common goldfish and oscar: angelfish can eat African dwarf frogs.
African dwarf frogs: 22–26°C (72–79°F), pH 6.5–7.5, adult size 3.5 cm (1.4 in), minimum tank 10 gallons (38 L). Full african dwarf frog care guide.
Good Compatible tank mates (91)
Shared water conditions and no known conflict. Still add fish slowly and watch them.
Betta fish
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 5+ gal
Bronze corydoras
7 cm (2.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Cherry shrimp
3 cm (1.2 in) · 5+ gal · groups of 10+
African dwarf frog will pick off baby cherry shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Dwarf gourami
7.5 cm (3 in) · 15+ gal
Guppy
5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+
Neon tetra
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Nerite snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 5+ gal
Panda corydoras
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+
Zebra danio
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Amano shrimp
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+
African dwarf frog will pick off baby amano shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Assassin snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 5+ gal
Black skirt tetra
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Cardinal tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Celestial pearl danio
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 8+
Cherry barb
5 cm (2 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+
Chili rasbora
2 cm (0.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+
Denison barb
13 cm (5.1 in) · 75+ gal · groups of 6+
Dwarf neon rainbowfish
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Ember tetra
2 cm (0.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 8+
Ghost shrimp
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+
African dwarf frog will pick off baby ghost shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Glowlight tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+
Harlequin rasbora
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Honey gourami
5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal
Julii corydoras
5.5 cm (2.2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Kuhli loach
9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Malaysian trumpet snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal
Molly
10 cm (3.9 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 3+
Mystery snail
5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal
Otocinclus
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Pearl gourami
11.5 cm (4.5 in) · 29+ gal
Peppered corydoras
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Platy
6 cm (2.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 3+
Pygmy corydoras
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+
Ramshorn snail
2 cm (0.8 in) · 5+ gal
Rummy-nose tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 10+
Silver dollar
15 cm (5.9 in) · 75+ gal · groups of 5+
Sterbai corydoras
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
X-ray tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+
Yoyo loach
13 cm (5.1 in) · 75+ gal · groups of 5+
Bamboo shrimp
8 cm (3.1 in) · 20+ gal
African dwarf frog will pick off baby bamboo shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Black neon tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Black phantom tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Bleeding heart tetra
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 8+
Bloodfin tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Clown killifish
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 6+
Clown pleco
9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal
Congo tetra
8 cm (3.1 in) · 40+ gal · groups of 6+
Crystal red shrimp
3 cm (1.2 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+
African dwarf frog will pick off baby crystal red shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Diamond tetra
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Dwarf chain loach
6 cm (2.4 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+
Emerald green corydoras
8 cm (3.1 in) · 55+ gal · groups of 6+
Emperor tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Endler's livebearer
3 cm (1.2 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+
Forktail blue-eye
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Gardneri killifish
6 cm (2.4 in) · 10+ gal
Giant danio
10 cm (3.9 in) · 55+ gal · groups of 6+
Glass catfish
7 cm (2.8 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+
Head and tail light tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Kubotai rasbora
2 cm (0.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 10+
Lambchop rasbora
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Lemon tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Marbled hatchetfish
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Odessa barb
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Panda garra
8.5 cm (3.3 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 3+
Peacock gudgeon
6 cm (2.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 2+
Penguin tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Red rainbowfish
12 cm (4.7 in) · 40+ gal · groups of 6+
Rosy loach
2.5 cm (1 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Rosy tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Scarlet badis
2 cm (0.8 in) · 10+ gal
Scissortail rasbora
12 cm (4.7 in) · 55+ gal · groups of 6+
Sparkling gourami
3.8 cm (1.5 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 2+
Swordtail
12 cm (4.7 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 4+
Thai micro crab
1 cm (0.4 in) · 5+ gal · groups of 5+
Threadfin rainbowfish
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Turquoise rainbowfish
11 cm (4.3 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+
Upside-down catfish
9.5 cm (3.7 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 4+
Vampire shrimp
10 cm (3.9 in) · 20+ gal
African dwarf frog will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Zebra loach
9 cm (3.5 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 5+
Black ruby barb
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Checkerboard barb
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Dwarf rasbora
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+
Flame tetra
3 cm (1.2 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Glowlight danio
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Green neon tetra
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+
Keyhole cichlid
10 cm (3.9 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 2+
Least killifish
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 6+
Pearl danio
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Silvertip tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Thick-lipped gourami
9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal
Variatus platy
6 cm (2.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 3+
Caution Possible, with care (30)
These can work in the right setup, but there is a real risk. Read the reason first.
- Bristlenose pleco · 20+ gal
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase African dwarf frogs, which use the same area.
- Common pleco · 150+ gal
- Common pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase African dwarf frogs, which use the same area.
- Fancy goldfish · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 22–23°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Tiger barb · 29+ gal
- Tiger barb nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like African dwarf frogs.
- Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
- Blood parrot cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller African dwarf frogs.
- Boesemani rainbowfish · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–26°C).
- Clown loach · 180+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Clown loach grows much larger than African dwarf frogs and may swallow them as it grows.
- Dojo loach · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 22–23°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Dojo loach grows much larger than African dwarf frogs and may swallow them as it grows.
- Firemouth cichlid · 29+ gal
- Firemouth cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller African dwarf frogs.
- Firemouth cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase African dwarf frogs, which use the same area.
- Hillstream loach · 20+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Kribensis · 29+ gal
- Kribensis is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller African dwarf frogs.
- Kribensis defends its patch of the bottom and may chase African dwarf frogs, which use the same area.
- Rainbow shark · 75+ gal
- Rainbow shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller African dwarf frogs.
- Rainbow shark grows much larger than African dwarf frogs and may swallow them as it grows.
- Rainbow shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase African dwarf frogs, which use the same area.
- Red-tail shark · 75+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller African dwarf frogs.
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase African dwarf frogs, which use the same area.
- Rosy barb · 29+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Siamese algae eater · 55+ gal
- Siamese algae eater grows much larger than African dwarf frogs and may swallow them as it grows.
- Three spot gourami · 29+ gal
- Three spot gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller African dwarf frogs.
- White cloud mountain minnow · 15+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 22–22°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Agassiz's dwarf cichlid · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Agassiz's dwarf cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase African dwarf frogs, which use the same area.
- Bolivian ram · 29+ gal
- Bolivian ram defends its patch of the bottom and may chase African dwarf frogs, which use the same area.
- Buenos Aires tetra · 29+ gal
- Buenos Aires tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like African dwarf frogs.
- Cockatoo cichlid · 20+ gal
- Cockatoo cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller African dwarf frogs.
- Cockatoo cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase African dwarf frogs, which use the same area.
- Dwarf orange crayfish · 10+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Gold barb · 29+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Kissing gourami · 75+ gal
- Kissing gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller African dwarf frogs.
- Kissing gourami grows much larger than African dwarf frogs and may swallow them as it grows.
- Paradise fish · 20+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Paradise fish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller African dwarf frogs.
- Rabbit snail · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Rubber lip pleco · 29+ gal
- Rubber lip pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase African dwarf frogs, which use the same area.
- Serpae tetra · 20+ gal
- Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like African dwarf frogs.
- Zebra pleco · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–26°C).
- Zebra pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase African dwarf frogs, which use the same area.
- Moonlight gourami · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
Avoid Bad tank mates (28)
- Angelfish: Angelfish can eat African dwarf frogs.
- Common goldfish: Common goldfish can eat African dwarf frogs.
- Oscar: Oscar can eat African dwarf frogs.
- Bala shark: Bala shark can eat African dwarf frogs.
- Chinese algae eater: Chinese algae eater is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful African dwarf frogs.
- Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid can eat African dwarf frogs. Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful African dwarf frogs.
- Discus: They need different temperatures: African dwarf frog 22–26°C (72–79°F), discus 28–30°C (82–86°F).
- Electric blue acara: Electric blue acara can eat African dwarf frogs.
- Electric yellow cichlid: Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. African dwarf frogs don't belong in that setup.
- German blue ram: They need different temperatures: African dwarf frog 22–26°C (72–79°F), german blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F).
- Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey can eat African dwarf frogs. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful African dwarf frogs.
- Pea puffer: Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful African dwarf frogs. Pea puffer is best kept in a species-only tank.
- Peacock cichlid: Peacock cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. African dwarf frogs don't belong in that setup.
- Pictus catfish: Pictus catfish can eat African dwarf frogs.
- Red zebra cichlid: Red zebra cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful African dwarf frogs. Red zebra cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. African dwarf frogs don't belong in that setup.
- Senegal bichir: Senegal bichir can eat African dwarf frogs.
- African butterfly fish: African butterfly fish can eat African dwarf frogs.
- Black ghost knifefish: Black ghost knifefish can eat African dwarf frogs.
- Bumblebee catfish: Bumblebee catfish can eat African dwarf frogs.
- Demasoni cichlid: Demasoni cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful African dwarf frogs. Demasoni cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. African dwarf frogs don't belong in that setup.
- Frontosa: Frontosa can eat African dwarf frogs. Frontosa is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 8–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. African dwarf frogs don't belong in that setup.
- Golden wonder killifish: Golden wonder killifish can eat African dwarf frogs.
- Green terror: Green terror can eat African dwarf frogs. Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful African dwarf frogs.
- Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful African dwarf frogs.
- Ropefish: Ropefish can eat African dwarf frogs.
- Severum: Severum can eat African dwarf frogs.
- Shell dweller cichlid: Shell dweller cichlid is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. African dwarf frogs don't belong in that setup.
- Tinfoil barb: Tinfoil barb can eat African dwarf frogs.
Frequently asked questions
What fish can live with African dwarf frogs?
Good tank mates for African dwarf frogs include betta fish, cherry shrimp, nerite snail, guppy, dwarf gourami and neon tetra. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat African dwarf frogs.
Can African dwarf frogs live with angelfish?
No. Angelfish can eat African dwarf frogs. Angelfish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller African dwarf frogs.
Can African dwarf frogs live with bettas?
Yes. They share similar water needs (24–26°C (75–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.
Can African dwarf frogs live with bristlenose plecos?
Sometimes, with care. Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase African dwarf frogs, which use the same area.
Can African dwarf frogs live with bronze corydoras?
Yes. They share similar water needs (22–26°C (72–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.
Popular questions
How we decide: we compare each pair's comfortable temperature, pH and hardness ranges, adult sizes, mouth size (who can eat whom), fin nipping, aggression and territory. Read the full method. Data last reviewed 2026-10-13.