Bandit Cichlid Tank Mates

• Bearded Corydoras✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 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✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 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✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 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✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 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✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 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✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 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✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 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✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 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✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 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✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 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✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 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✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 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✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 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✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 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✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 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✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 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✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 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✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 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✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 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✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 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✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 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✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 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✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 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✅ Compatible
  Peaceful · 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 caution
  Semi-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 caution
  Semi-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 caution
  Semi-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 caution
  Semi-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 caution
  Peaceful · 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 caution
  Semi-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 caution
  Semi-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 caution
  Semi-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 caution
  Semi-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 caution
  Semi-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 caution
  Semi-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 caution
  Semi-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 caution
  Peaceful · 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 caution
  Semi-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 caution
  Peaceful · 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 caution
  Semi-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 recommended
  Aggressive · 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 recommended
  Aggressive · 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 recommended
  Semi-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 recommended
  Peaceful · 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 recommended
  Aggressive · 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 recommended
  Aggressive · 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 recommended
  Aggressive · 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 recommended
  Aggressive · 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.