Blackcheek Cichlid Tank Mates
Blackcheek Cichlid is aggressive, so its tank mates need choosing with care. Here are the 12 freshwater species that pair well with a blackcheek cichlid — plus the 270 to avoid — with a live checker you can tune to your own tank.
The best tank mates for a blackcheek cichlid
- Bristlenose Pleco ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 12 cm · 23–30 °C (73–86 °F)Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Rubber Lip Pleco ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 12 cm · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Marbled Hoplo ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 14 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)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.
- Spotted Talking Catfish ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 15 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Weather Loach ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 25 cm · 5–24 °C (41–75 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Medusa Pleco ✅ CompatibleMedium care · Peaceful · 12 cm · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 26–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Spotted Rubbernose Pleco ✅ CompatibleMedium care · Peaceful · 12 cm · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)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.
- Snowball Pleco ✅ CompatibleMedium care · Peaceful · 16 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Goldfish ✅ CompatibleMedium care · Peaceful · 30 cm · 18–22 °C (64–72 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–22 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Yellow-spotted Pleco ✅ CompatibleMedium care · Peaceful · 35 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)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.
- Sailfin Pleco ✅ CompatibleMedium care · Peaceful · 50 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)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.
- Elephant-nose Knifefish ✅ CompatibleHard care · Peaceful · 35 cm · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
Blackcheek Cichlid tank mates that can work with care
- Adolf's Cory ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Peaceful · 5.5 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)Blackcheek Cichlid may bully the smaller Adolf's Cory, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Agassiz's Corydoras ⚠️ With cautionEasy care · Peaceful · 6 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)Blackcheek Cichlid may bully the smaller Agassiz's Corydoras, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Assassin Snail ⚠️ With cautionEasy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)Blackcheek Cichlid may bully the smaller Assassin Snail, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Axelrod's Cory ⚠️ With cautionEasy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)Blackcheek Cichlid may bully the smaller Axelrod's Cory, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Bandit Corydoras ⚠️ With cautionEasy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)Blackcheek Cichlid may bully the smaller Bandit Corydoras, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Banjo Catfish ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Peaceful · 15 cm · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)Banjo Catfish is small enough to tempt Blackcheek Cichlid; only risk it in a densely planted setup with hiding spots.
- Bearded Corydoras ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Peaceful · 10 cm · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)Blackcheek Cichlid may bully the smaller Bearded Corydoras, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Black Doras Catfish ⚠️ With cautionHard care · Peaceful · 60 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)Black Doras Catfish may hunt Blackcheek Cichlid, fry or shrimplets — safest in a heavily planted tank.
+ 50 more “with caution” pairings — see the interactive checker above.
Fish to avoid keeping with a blackcheek cichlid
- Mekong Giant Catfish ⛔ AvoidHard care · Semi-aggressive · 300 cm · 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)Blackcheek Cichlid and Mekong Giant Catfish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Wels Catfish ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 300 cm · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)Blackcheek Cichlid and Wels Catfish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Alligator Gar ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 250 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)Blackcheek Cichlid and Alligator Gar are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Redtail Catfish ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 120 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Blackcheek Cichlid and Redtail Catfish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Fire Eel ⛔ AvoidMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 100 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Blackcheek Cichlid and Fire Eel will hold territory and clash.
- Clown Knifefish ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Blackcheek Cichlid and Clown Knifefish will hold territory and clash.
- Koi ⛔ AvoidMedium care · Peaceful · 90 cm · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)Koi (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 25 cm Blackcheek Cichlid whole.
- Spotted Gar ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)Blackcheek Cichlid and Spotted Gar are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
+ 262 more to avoid — the checker above flags every one.
Check any fish against a blackcheek cichlid
Dial in your exact tank size and filter by result — the checker scores every species in our database against a blackcheek cichlid, with the reasoning for each verdict.
Tank-mate checker
Will it live with a Blackcheek Cichlid?
We compare each fish against your blackcheek cichlid on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.
- Bristlenose Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 23–30 °C (73–86 °F)
- Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Elephant-nose Knifefish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 35 cm · Hard care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Goldfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 30 cm · Medium care · 18–22 °C (64–72 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–22 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Marbled Hoplo✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 14 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- 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.
- Medusa Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)
- Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 26–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Rubber Lip Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Sailfin Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 50 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- 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.
- Snowball Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 16 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Spotted Rubbernose Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- 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.
- Spotted Talking Catfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 15 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Weather Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 25 cm · Easy care · 5–24 °C (41–75 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Yellow-spotted Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 35 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- 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.
- Banjo Catfish⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 15 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Banjo Catfish is small enough to tempt Blackcheek Cichlid; only risk it in a densely planted setup with hiding spots.
- Bearded Corydoras⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 10 cm · Medium care · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
- Blackcheek Cichlid may bully the smaller Bearded Corydoras, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Black Doras Catfish⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 60 cm · Hard care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Black Doras Catfish may hunt Blackcheek Cichlid, fry or shrimplets — safest in a heavily planted tank.
- Your 380 L tank is below the ~500 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Boesemani Rainbowfish⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 11 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Expect Blackcheek Cichlid to harass Boesemani Rainbowfish at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Watch for Blackcheek Cichlid picking off any boesemani rainbowfish small enough to fit in its mouth.
- Keep Boesemani Rainbowfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Clown Loach⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 30 cm · Medium care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
- Your 380 L tank is below the ~400 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Common Pleco⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 45 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Watch for Common Pleco picking off any blackcheek cichlid small enough to fit in its mouth.
- Denison Barb⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 15 cm · Medium care · 18–25 °C (64–77 °F)
- Blackcheek Cichlid is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Denison Barb — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Blackcheek Cichlid may hunt Denison Barb, fry or shrimplets — safest in a heavily planted tank.
- Keep Denison Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Discus⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 20 cm · Hard care · 28–31 °C (82–88 °F)
- Blackcheek Cichlid and Discus are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add discus in a group to spread the pressure.
- Keep Discus in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Giant Betta⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Blackcheek Cichlid clearly outsizes Giant Betta and is aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Blackcheek Cichlid may hunt Giant Betta, fry or shrimplets — safest in a heavily planted tank.
- Giant Glass Catfish⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 15 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Blackcheek Cichlid clearly outsizes Giant Glass Catfish and is aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Giant Kuhli Loach⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Watch for Blackcheek Cichlid picking off any giant kuhli loach small enough to fit in its mouth.
- Mascara Barb⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
- Expect Blackcheek Cichlid to harass Mascara Barb at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Watch for Blackcheek Cichlid picking off any mascara barb small enough to fit in its mouth.
- Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Moonlight Gourami⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 15 cm · Easy care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
- Blackcheek Cichlid is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Moonlight Gourami — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Moonlight Gourami is small enough to tempt Blackcheek Cichlid; only risk it in a densely planted setup with hiding spots.
- Murray River Rainbowfish⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 11 cm · Easy care · 15–26 °C (59–79 °F)
- Blackcheek Cichlid is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Murray River Rainbowfish — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Watch for Blackcheek Cichlid picking off any murray river rainbowfish small enough to fit in its mouth.
- Keep Murray River Rainbowfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Pearl Gourami⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Expect Blackcheek Cichlid to harass Pearl Gourami at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Watch for Blackcheek Cichlid picking off any pearl gourami small enough to fit in its mouth.
- Striped Eel Loach⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Striped Eel Loach is small enough to tempt Blackcheek Cichlid; only risk it in a densely planted setup with hiding spots.
- Alligator Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 250 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Blackcheek Cichlid and Alligator Gar are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Blackcheek Cichlid is bite-sized to a 250 cm predatory alligator gar — it will be eaten.
- Your 380 L tank is below the ~3785 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Clown Knifefish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Blackcheek Cichlid and Clown Knifefish will hold territory and clash.
- Size gap is too large (90 vs 25 cm): Clown Knifefish will treat Blackcheek Cichlid as food.
- Your 380 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Fire Eel⛔ Not recommendedSemi-aggressive · 100 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Blackcheek Cichlid and Fire Eel will hold territory and clash.
- Size gap is too large (100 vs 25 cm): Fire Eel will treat Blackcheek Cichlid as food.
- Koi⛔ Not recommendedPeaceful · 90 cm · Medium care · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)
- Koi (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 25 cm Blackcheek Cichlid whole.
- Your 380 L tank is below the ~3800 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Mekong Giant Catfish⛔ Not recommendedSemi-aggressive · 300 cm · Hard care · 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)
- Blackcheek Cichlid and Mekong Giant Catfish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Your 380 L tank is below the ~100000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Redtail Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 120 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Blackcheek Cichlid and Redtail Catfish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Redtail Catfish (120 cm) is big enough to swallow the 25 cm Blackcheek Cichlid whole.
- Your 380 L tank is below the ~5700 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Spotted Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Blackcheek Cichlid and Spotted Gar are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Blackcheek Cichlid is bite-sized to a 90 cm predatory spotted gar — it will be eaten.
- Your 380 L tank is below the ~600 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Wels Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 300 cm · Hard care · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
- Blackcheek Cichlid and Wels Catfish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Wels Catfish (300 cm) is big enough to swallow the 25 cm Blackcheek Cichlid whole.
- Your 380 L tank is below the ~20000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
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.
Setting up a blackcheek cichlid community tank
Give the group a stable, planted 380 L+ tank with a gentle filter, a reliable heater and plenty of cover — broken sight lines and hiding spots let mid-water and bottom dwellers keep out of each other's way. Cycle it fully and stock gradually.
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How to choose the right tank mates for a blackcheek cichlid
Blackcheek Cichlid is aggressive and territorial, so most community fish are unsafe; any tank mate must be large, tough and able to hold its own. It mostly occupies the middle of the tank, so it pairs naturally with species that use the other levels.
Blackcheek Cichlid grows to about 25 cm, so avoid tank mates small enough to be seen as food — as a rule of thumb, skip anything under roughly 13 cm. Match its water, too: aim for 22–28 °C (72–82 °F), pH 7–8.2 and 8–20 dGH. Fish needing very different conditions — coldwater species, or hard-water lovers against a soft-water fish — rarely thrive side by side.
Blackcheek Cichlid doesn't need its own kind to feel secure; think twice before keeping more than one if it is territorial. Whatever you add, introduce new fish slowly, watch for bullying in the first days, and have a backup plan if temperaments clash.
Frequently asked questions
Can a blackcheek cichlid live with other fish?
Yes — with the right companions. Our checker finds 12 compatible freshwater species for blackcheek cichlid. Pick calm, similarly-sized fish that share its water needs and add them to a mature, well-planted tank.
What is the best tank mate for a blackcheek cichlid?
Easy, peaceful, similarly-sized species top the list — for example Bristlenose Pleco, Rubber Lip Pleco, Marbled Hoplo. Use the checker above to match against your own tank size.
What fish should you avoid keeping with a blackcheek cichlid?
Avoid Mekong Giant Catfish, Wels Catfish, Alligator Gar and similar — usually a temperature, size or temperament clash. The full "avoid" list below gives the reason for each.
How big a tank do blackcheek cichlid tank mates need?
Start from Blackcheek Cichlid's own minimum and scale up with every addition. The checker above defaults to a 380 L community tank and flags pairings that need more room — drag the slider to match your setup.