Tank mates for jewel cichlids

We checked jewel cichlids against all 149 other species in our database for water temperature, pH, size, fin nipping, predation and aggression.

Good tank mates for jewel cichlids include nerite snail, assassin snail, ramshorn snail, malaysian trumpet snail, mystery snail and convict cichlid. Avoid bristlenose pleco, bronze corydoras and cherry shrimp: jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bristlenose plecos.

Jewel cichlids: 24–27°C (75–81°F), pH 6.5–7.5, adult size 10 cm (3.9 in), minimum tank 40 gallons (151 L). Full jewel cichlid care guide.

Check a full stocking plan

Good Compatible tank mates (14)

Shared water conditions and no known conflict. Still add fish slowly and watch them.

Caution Possible, with care (23)

These can work in the right setup, but there is a real risk. Read the reason first.

  • Angelfish · 29+ gal
    • Jewel cichlid sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of angelfish are an easy target.
    • Jewel cichlid defends its patch of the tank and may chase angelfish, which use the same area.
  • Betta fish · 5+ gal
    • Jewel cichlid sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of bettas are an easy target.
    • Jewel cichlid is aggressive. Bettas can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
  • Tiger barb · 29+ gal
    • Jewel cichlid is aggressive. Tiger barbs can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
    • Jewel cichlid defends its patch of the tank and may chase tiger barbs, which use the same area.
  • Amano shrimp · 10+ gal
    • Jewel cichlid hunts shrimp. Larger amano shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
    • Jewel cichlid defends its patch of the tank and may chase blood parrot cichlids, which use the same area.
    • Blood parrot cichlid defends its patch of the tank and may chase jewel cichlids, which use the same area.
  • Ghost shrimp · 10+ gal
    • Jewel cichlid hunts shrimp. Larger ghost shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Kribensis · 29+ gal
    • Jewel cichlid is aggressive. Kribensis can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
  • Senegal bichir · 90+ gal
    • Senegal bichir may eat jewel cichlids, especially young or small ones.
  • Three spot gourami · 29+ gal
    • Jewel cichlid sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of three spot gouramis are an easy target.
  • African butterfly fish · 29+ gal
    • Jewel cichlid sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of african butterfly fish are an easy target.
    • Jewel cichlid is aggressive. African butterfly fish can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
  • Agassiz's dwarf cichlid · 20+ gal
    • Jewel cichlid is aggressive. Agassiz's dwarf cichlids can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
  • Bamboo shrimp · 20+ gal
    • Jewel cichlid hunts shrimp. Larger bamboo shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Buenos Aires tetra · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
    • Jewel cichlid is aggressive. Buenos Aires tetras can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
    • Jewel cichlid defends its patch of the tank and may chase buenos Aires tetras, which use the same area.
  • Cockatoo cichlid · 20+ gal
    • Jewel cichlid is aggressive. Cockatoo cichlids can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
  • Dwarf orange crayfish · 10+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
    • Jewel cichlid may attack small crustaceans like dwarf orange crayfish, especially after they molt.
  • Gardneri killifish · 10+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
    • Jewel cichlid is aggressive. Gardneri killifish can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
    • Jewel cichlid defends its patch of the tank and may chase gardneri killifish, which use the same area.
  • Golden wonder killifish · 20+ gal
    • Jewel cichlid is aggressive. Golden wonder killifish can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
  • Green terror · 80+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
    • Jewel cichlid defends its patch of the tank and may chase green terrors, which use the same area.
    • Green terror defends its patch of the tank and may chase jewel cichlids, which use the same area.
  • Paradise fish · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
    • Jewel cichlid is aggressive. Paradise fish can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
  • Serpae tetra · 20+ gal
    • Jewel cichlid is aggressive. Serpae tetras can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
    • Jewel cichlid defends its patch of the tank and may chase serpae tetras, which use the same area.
  • Severum · 55+ gal
    • Jewel cichlid defends its patch of the tank and may chase severums, which use the same area.
    • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase jewel cichlids, which use the same area.
  • Thai micro crab · 5+ gal
    • Jewel cichlid may attack small crustaceans like Thai micro crabs, especially after they molt.
  • Vampire shrimp · 20+ gal
    • Jewel cichlid hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.

Avoid Bad tank mates (112)

  • Bristlenose pleco: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bristlenose plecos.
  • Bronze corydoras: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bronze corydoras.
  • Cherry shrimp: Jewel cichlid eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
  • Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Jewel cichlid 24–27°C (75–81°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F). Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful common goldfish.
  • Common pleco: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful common plecos.
  • Dwarf gourami: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful dwarf gouramis.
  • Fancy goldfish: They need different temperatures: Jewel cichlid 24–27°C (75–81°F), fancy goldfish 18–23°C (64–73°F). Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful fancy goldfish.
  • Guppy: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful guppies.
  • Neon tetra: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful neon tetras.
  • Oscar: Oscar can eat jewel cichlids: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
  • Panda corydoras: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful panda corydoras.
  • Zebra danio: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful zebra danios.
  • African dwarf frog: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful African dwarf frogs.
  • Bala shark: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bala sharks.
  • Black skirt tetra: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful black skirt tetras.
  • Boesemani rainbowfish: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful boesemani rainbowfish.
  • Cardinal tetra: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful cardinal tetras.
  • Celestial pearl danio: Jewel cichlid can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful celestial pearl danios.
  • Cherry barb: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful cherry barbs.
  • Chili rasbora: Jewel cichlid can eat chili rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful chili rasboras.
  • Clown loach: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful clown loaches.
  • Denison barb: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful denison barbs.
  • Discus: They need different temperatures: Jewel cichlid 24–27°C (75–81°F), discus 28–30°C (82–86°F). Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful discus.
  • Dojo loach: They need different temperatures: Jewel cichlid 24–27°C (75–81°F), dojo loach 18–23°C (64–73°F). Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful dojo loaches.
  • Dwarf neon rainbowfish: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful dwarf neon rainbowfish.
  • 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. Jewel cichlids don't belong in that setup.
  • Ember tetra: Jewel cichlid can eat ember tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful ember tetras.
  • German blue ram: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful German blue rams.
  • Glowlight tetra: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful glowlight tetras.
  • Harlequin rasbora: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful harlequin rasboras.
  • Hillstream loach: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful hillstream loaches.
  • Honey gourami: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful honey gouramis.
  • Julii corydoras: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful julii corydoras.
  • Kuhli loach: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful kuhli loaches.
  • Molly: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful mollies.
  • Otocinclus: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful otocinclus.
  • Pea puffer: Jewel cichlid can eat pea puffers: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. 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. Jewel cichlids don't belong in that setup.
  • Pearl gourami: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful pearl gouramis.
  • Peppered corydoras: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful peppered corydoras.
  • Pictus catfish: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful pictus catfish.
  • Platy: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful platies.
  • Pygmy corydoras: Jewel cichlid can eat pygmy corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful pygmy corydoras.
  • Red zebra cichlid: 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. Jewel cichlids don't belong in that setup.
  • Rosy barb: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful rosy barbs.
  • Rummy-nose tetra: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful rummy-nose tetras.
  • Siamese algae eater: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful siamese algae eaters.
  • Silver dollar: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful silver dollars.
  • Sterbai corydoras: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful sterbai corydoras.
  • White cloud mountain minnow: They need different temperatures: Jewel cichlid 24–27°C (75–81°F), white cloud mountain minnow 16–22°C (61–72°F). Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful white cloud mountain minnows.
  • X-ray tetra: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful x-ray tetras.
  • Yoyo loach: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful yoyo loaches.
  • Black ghost knifefish: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful black ghost knifefish.
  • Black neon tetra: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful black neon tetras.
  • Black phantom tetra: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful black phantom tetras.
  • Bleeding heart tetra: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bleeding heart tetras.
  • Bloodfin tetra: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bloodfin tetras.
  • Bolivian ram: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful Bolivian rams.
  • Bumblebee catfish: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bumblebee catfish.
  • Clown killifish: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful clown killifish.
  • Clown pleco: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful clown plecos.
  • Congo tetra: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful Congo tetras.
  • Crystal red shrimp: Jewel cichlid eats small shrimp like crystal red shrimp.
  • Demasoni cichlid: 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. Jewel cichlids don't belong in that setup.
  • Diamond tetra: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful diamond tetras.
  • Dwarf chain loach: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful dwarf chain loaches.
  • Emerald green corydoras: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful emerald green corydoras.
  • Emperor tetra: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful emperor tetras.
  • Endler's livebearer: Jewel cichlid can eat Endler's livebearers: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful Endler's livebearers.
  • Forktail blue-eye: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful forktail blue-eyes.
  • Frontosa: Frontosa can eat jewel cichlids: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. 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. Jewel cichlids don't belong in that setup.
  • Giant danio: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful giant danios.
  • Glass catfish: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful glass catfish.
  • Gold barb: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful gold barbs.
  • Head and tail light tetra: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful head and tail light tetras.
  • Kubotai rasbora: Jewel cichlid can eat kubotai rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful kubotai rasboras.
  • Lambchop rasbora: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful lambchop rasboras.
  • Lemon tetra: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful lemon tetras.
  • Marbled hatchetfish: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful marbled hatchetfish.
  • Odessa barb: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful odessa barbs.
  • Panda garra: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful panda garras.
  • Peacock gudgeon: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful peacock gudgeons.
  • Penguin tetra: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful penguin tetras.
  • Red rainbowfish: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful red rainbowfish.
  • Ropefish: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful ropefish.
  • Rosy loach: Jewel cichlid can eat rosy loaches: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful rosy loaches.
  • Rosy tetra: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful rosy tetras.
  • Rubber lip pleco: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful rubber lip plecos.
  • Scarlet badis: Jewel cichlid can eat scarlet badis: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful scarlet badis.
  • Scissortail rasbora: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful scissortail rasboras.
  • 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. Jewel cichlids don't belong in that setup.
  • Sparkling gourami: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful sparkling gouramis.
  • Swordtail: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful swordtails.
  • Threadfin rainbowfish: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful threadfin rainbowfish.
  • Tinfoil barb: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful tinfoil barbs.
  • Turquoise rainbowfish: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful turquoise rainbowfish.
  • Upside-down catfish: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful upside-down catfish.
  • Zebra loach: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful zebra loaches.
  • Zebra pleco: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful zebra plecos.
  • Black ruby barb: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful black ruby barbs.
  • Checkerboard barb: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful checkerboard barbs.
  • Dwarf rasbora: Jewel cichlid can eat dwarf rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful dwarf rasboras.
  • Flame tetra: Jewel cichlid can eat flame tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful flame tetras.
  • Glowlight danio: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful glowlight danios.
  • Green neon tetra: Jewel cichlid can eat green neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful green neon tetras.
  • Keyhole cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful keyhole cichlids.
  • Least killifish: Jewel cichlid can eat least killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful least killifish.
  • Moonlight gourami: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful moonlight gouramis.
  • Pearl danio: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful pearl danios.
  • Silvertip tetra: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful silvertip tetras.
  • Thick-lipped gourami: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful thick-lipped gouramis.
  • Variatus platy: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful variatus platies.

Frequently asked questions

What fish can live with jewel cichlids?

Good tank mates for jewel cichlids include nerite snail, assassin snail, ramshorn snail, malaysian trumpet snail, mystery snail and convict cichlid. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat jewel cichlids.

Can jewel cichlids live with angelfish?

Sometimes, with care. Jewel cichlid sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of angelfish are an easy target. Jewel cichlid defends its patch of the tank and may chase angelfish, which use the same area.

Can jewel cichlids live with bettas?

Sometimes, with care. Jewel cichlid sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of bettas are an easy target. Jewel cichlid is aggressive. Bettas can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.

Can jewel cichlids live with bristlenose plecos?

No. Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bristlenose plecos.

Can jewel cichlids live with bronze corydoras?

No. Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bronze corydoras.

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.