Photo: Julien Renoult (CC BY 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons
Bandit Cichlid (Guianacara geayi)
A sociable South American cichlid with a bold black eye-stripe, best kept in groups where its lively personality really shines.
Will it live with a Bandit Cichlid?
We compare each fish against your bandit cichlid on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.
- Bearded Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 10 cm · Medium care · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Black Kuhli Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Bolivian Ram✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Bristlenose Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 23–30 °C (73–86 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Burmese Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 9 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Clown Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 9 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Clown Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 10 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Giant Betta✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Giant Danio✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 20–27 °C (68–81 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Giant Danio in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Giant Kuhli Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keyhole Cichlid✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Kuhli Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Leopard Frog Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 9 cm · Medium care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Medusa Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 26–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Molly✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Murray River Rainbowfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 11 cm · Easy care · 15–26 °C (59–79 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Murray River Rainbowfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Pantanal Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Pantanal Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Peppered Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Peppered Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Porthole Catfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Rio Negro Checkerboard Cichlid✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7 cm · Hard care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Spotted Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Spotted Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Upside-down Catfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Zebra Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 9 cm · Medium care · 23–26 °C (73–79 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Zebra Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 10 cm · Hard care · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Afra Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 10 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Different pH ranges (6–7 vs 7.8–8.6); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Afra Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- African Butterfly Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 8 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 9 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Bandit Cichlid and Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Brichardi Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 9 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Different pH ranges (6–7 vs 7.8–9); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Brilliant Rasbora⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 9 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Expect Bandit Cichlid to harass Brilliant Rasbora at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Brilliant Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Daffodil Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 10 cm · Medium care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
- pH preferences only just meet (Bandit Cichlid 6–7 vs Daffodil Cichlid 7.8–9) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Bandit Cichlid and Daffodil Cichlid can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Electric Yellow Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 10 cm · Medium care · 23–26 °C (73–79 °F)
- Different pH ranges (6–7 vs 7.8–8.9); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
- Your 150 L tank is below the ~200 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Golden Wonder Killifish⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Kribensis⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 10 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Bandit Cichlid and Kribensis can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Mexican Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 9 cm · Easy care · 18–25 °C (64–77 °F)
- Bandit Cichlid and Mexican Tetra can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Mexican Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Rosy Barb⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 10 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Rosy Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Rusty Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 10 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- pH preferences only just meet (Bandit Cichlid 6–7 vs Rusty Cichlid 7.8–8.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Bandit Cichlid and Rusty Cichlid can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Silver Tetra⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 9 cm · Easy care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Expect Bandit Cichlid to harass Silver Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 10 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- pH preferences only just meet (Bandit Cichlid 6–7 vs Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid 8–9) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Bandit Cichlid and Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Thick-lipped Gourami⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 9 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Expect Bandit Cichlid to harass Thick-lipped Gourami at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Topaz Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 10 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Alligator Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 250 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Bandit Cichlid and Alligator Gar will hold territory and clash.
- Size gap is too large (250 vs 9 cm): Alligator Gar will treat Bandit Cichlid as food.
- Your 150 L tank is below the ~3785 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Clown Knifefish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Bandit Cichlid and Clown Knifefish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Bandit Cichlid is bite-sized to a 90 cm predatory clown knifefish — it will be eaten.
- Your 150 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Fire Eel⛔ Not recommendedSemi-aggressive · 100 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Bandit Cichlid is bite-sized to a 100 cm predatory fire eel — it will be eaten.
- Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
- Your 150 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Koi⛔ Not recommendedPeaceful · 90 cm · Medium care · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)
- Size gap is too large (90 vs 9 cm): Koi will treat Bandit Cichlid as food.
- Your 150 L tank is below the ~3800 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Redtail Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 120 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Bandit Cichlid and Redtail Catfish will hold territory and clash.
- Size gap is too large (120 vs 9 cm): Redtail Catfish will treat Bandit Cichlid as food.
- Your 150 L tank is below the ~5700 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Spotted Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Bandit Cichlid and Spotted Gar will hold territory and clash.
- Size gap is too large (90 vs 9 cm): Spotted Gar will treat Bandit Cichlid as food.
- Your 150 L tank is below the ~600 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Wels Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 300 cm · Hard care · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
- Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Bandit Cichlid and Wels Catfish will hold territory and clash.
- Size gap is too large (300 vs 9 cm): Wels Catfish will treat Bandit Cichlid as food.
- Your 150 L tank is below the ~20000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Wolf Cichlid⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 72 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Bandit Cichlid and Wolf Cichlid are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Wolf Cichlid (72 cm) is big enough to swallow the 9 cm Bandit Cichlid whole.
- Your 150 L tank is below the ~760 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
Compatibility is computed from each species' care data — a strong starting point, not a guarantee. Individual temperament varies, so always introduce new fish slowly and watch them.
Bandit Cichlid care specs
- Care level
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Max size
- 9 cm (3.5 in)
- Min tank size
- 150 L (39.6 gal)
- Temperature
- 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- pH
- 6–7
- Hardness
- 2–10 dGH
- Lifespan
- 5–7 years
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Group size
- 6+ (shoaling)
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- South America — Guyana and Suriname; rivers of the Guiana Shield
What is a Bandit Cichlid?
The Bandit Cichlid (Guianacara geayi) is a medium-sized South American cichlid named for the dramatic black diagonal stripe that sweeps across both eyes like a highwayman’s mask. Native to the slow-moving, tannin-stained rivers of Guyana and Suriname, it reaches about 9 cm (3.5 in) and carries an olive-brown body accented by a distinctive dark saddle patch at the base of the dorsal fin. It also goes by the names Geayi bandit acara, Saddle acara, and Guiana acara in the hobby.
What sets this species apart from many cichlids is its genuinely gregarious nature. In the wild it forms loose social groups, and aquarium specimens kept in groups of six or more are noticeably calmer, bolder and more interesting to observe than those kept alone or in pairs. Availability in the trade is moderate — the species turns up regularly at specialist cichlid retailers and online sellers, but is not a mass-market fish. That relative scarcity rewards keepers who track it down with a species that is far less commonly seen in community tanks yet no harder to keep than many popular cichlids.
Where do Bandit Cichlids come from?
Bandit Cichlids are native to the Guiana Shield — a vast region of ancient geology spanning Guyana and Suriname in northern South America. The rivers here are typically slow-moving to still, often heavily shaded by overhanging forest, and deeply stained with tannins from decomposing leaf litter. The result is water that is warm, soft and acidic: low pH, near-zero hardness, and low dissolved mineral content.
Understanding this origin is the single most important key to keeping Guianacara geayi well. They are not adaptable to the hard, alkaline tap water that many popular cichlids tolerate without complaint. Their metabolism and long-term health are genuinely tied to soft, mildly acidic chemistry — something to plan for before the fish arrive.
What tank size and setup do Bandit Cichlids need?
A group of six requires a minimum of 150 litres (about 40 gallons), and larger is always better — especially if you intend to breed or keep a bigger group. Floor space matters more than height, since this is a bottom-dwelling species that spends most of its time near the substrate.
Furnish the tank with a fine sand substrate, which suits the species’ habit of sifting the bottom. Add driftwood branches, stacked rocks and cave structures — these serve as territorial anchors that break sightlines and allow subordinate fish to escape a dominant individual’s attention. Dense plantings are optional but beneficial; hardy species such as Java fern and Anubias tolerate the digging and low light typical of a Guiana Shield biotope setup. Floating plants to diffuse overhead light are a nice touch that often encourages natural behaviour. Filtration should provide good turnover without producing a strong current — gentle flow is more appropriate to their still-water origins.
What water parameters do Bandit Cichlids need?
- Temperature: 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- pH: 6.0–7.0
- Hardness: 2–10 dGH (soft water)
These fish are among the more water-chemistry-sensitive cichlids in the hobby. If your tap water is moderately hard or alkaline, conditioning with reverse osmosis (RO) water blended to target values, or the use of peat filtration and driftwood, is recommended. Stability matters as much as the numbers themselves — sudden swings in pH or temperature are more damaging than a reading that sits slightly outside the ideal range. Perform regular partial water changes (around 20–25% weekly) to keep nitrates low and water quality consistent.
What do Bandit Cichlids eat?
Bandit Cichlids are omnivores in the wild, picking up invertebrates, organic detritus and small organisms from the substrate. In the aquarium they accept a wide range of foods without difficulty. A quality sinking cichlid pellet or disc can form the staple, supplemented with frozen and live foods such as bloodworms, daphnia, brine shrimp and earthworms chopped to an appropriate size. Occasional offerings of blanched vegetables or spirulina-based foods round out the diet and support long-term health.
Feed once or twice daily in amounts the fish consume within two to three minutes. Because they are bottom feeders, ensure food reaches the substrate — fast-swimming mid-water tank-mates can intercept sinking pellets before they arrive. Skip a feeding day each week to prevent over-conditioning and maintain water quality.
Are Bandit Cichlids aggressive — and what fish can live with them?
Bandit Cichlids are classified as semi-aggressive, but this label requires context. Within a properly sized group of six or more, intraspecies aggression is managed socially — males establish a loose hierarchy and chase and posturing rarely escalates to real injury, provided there are enough caves and visual breaks in the tank. Problems arise in smaller groups or cramped tanks where a dominant individual cannot be avoided.
Toward other species, Bandit Cichlids are reasonably tolerant of similarly-sized, robust fish that occupy different zones of the tank. Good community partners include medium-sized tetras, eartheaters, and other peaceful South American cichlids of comparable size. Avoid very small or very timid fish that could be harassed, and steer clear of highly aggressive cichlids that might overwhelm a Bandit group.
For a full, filterable list of compatible and incompatible species, visit the Bandit Cichlid tank mates page.
How do you tell male and female Bandit Cichlids apart?
Sexual dimorphism in Guianacara geayi is moderate and most reliably read in mature fish. Males grow larger — approaching the species maximum of 9 cm (3.5 in) — and develop a more pronounced nuchal hump on the forehead as they mature and establish dominance. Females remain slightly smaller and tend to have a rounder, more compact body profile, which becomes noticeably more so when they are gravid (carrying eggs). Colour differences are subtle and variable; males may show slightly more intense markings during breeding condition, but this is not a reliable standalone indicator. Purchasing a group of six or more juveniles and allowing pairs to form naturally is the most reliable strategy for obtaining both sexes.
How do Bandit Cichlids breed?
Bandit Cichlids are cave spawners of medium breeding difficulty. A compatible pair will typically form within an established group, and spawning is often triggered by a water change with slightly cooler, softer water — mimicking seasonal rainfall in their native range. The female deposits eggs on the ceiling or walls of a cave or sheltered crevice; both parents share guarding duties, though the female tends to stay closer to the spawn site while the male patrols the surrounding territory.
Fry become free-swimming within roughly a week of hatching and can be started on freshly hatched brine shrimp nauplii and microworms. Parental care is reasonably reliable, but in a community tank it is wise to have a spare tank or divider available in case other group members become a threat to the brood. Remove the fry once parental care winds down, or grow them on separately for better survival rates.
What diseases are common in Bandit Cichlids?
Bandit Cichlids are no more disease-prone than other cichlids when kept in appropriate conditions, but their sensitivity to water chemistry means that lapses in maintenance translate quickly into health problems. Common issues include:
- White spot (ich): Classic white pinhead spots across the body and fins, usually triggered by a temperature drop or stress from transport. Preventable with stable temperature and a proper quarantine period for new fish.
- Hole-in-the-head disease (HITH): Pitting around the lateral line and head, associated with poor water quality and nutritional deficiencies. Addressed primarily through improved husbandry and a varied diet.
- Bacterial infections and fin damage: Often secondary to physical aggression within the group. Ensure adequate space and cave structures to reduce conflict.
- External parasites (flukes, anchor worm): Introduced with live foods or unquarantined fish. A standard four-week quarantine for all new additions is the best prevention.
Health note: disease diagnosis and medication dosing are beyond the scope of a care profile. If your fish show symptoms, confirm the cause against a reputable veterinary or fish-health source before treating.
How long do Bandit Cichlids live?
With attentive care, Guianacara geayi lives 5–7 years in the aquarium. Reaching the upper end of that range depends most heavily on water quality — the species’ requirement for soft, slightly acidic conditions is not merely a preference but a genuine biological need that, when consistently met, supports immune function and long-term organ health. A well-maintained tank with weekly water changes, a varied diet and appropriate company is the most reliable path to a long-lived, behaviorally rich group of Bandit Cichlids.
Frequently asked questions
How many Bandit Cichlids should I keep together?
Keep a group of at least six. They are a gregarious species that uses social structure to manage aggression among males. A lone individual or a pair in a small tank can become stressed and quarrelsome; a larger group with plenty of visual barriers — caves, driftwood, rockwork — distributes any territorial tension harmlessly.
What water conditions do Bandit Cichlids need?
They come from the soft, acidic rivers of the Guiana Shield, so aim for pH 6.0–7.0 and low hardness (2–10 dGH). Temperature of 22–26 °C suits them well. Avoid hard alkaline tap water without conditioning — unlike many cichlids, these fish genuinely need softer chemistry to thrive long-term.
What you need to keep a bandit cichlid
The baseline is a heated, filtered 150 L+ tank: a reliable heater to hold 22–26 °C (72–79 °F), a gentle filter that won't batter a bandit cichlid in the current, and a tight-fitting lid. Cycle the tank fully before adding any fish.
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