Bumblebee Cichlid Tank Mates
Bumblebee Cichlid is aggressive, so its tank mates need choosing with care. Here are the 5 freshwater species that pair well with a bumblebee cichlid — plus the 229 to avoid — with a live checker you can tune to your own tank.
The best tank mates for a bumblebee cichlid
- Corydoras Catfish ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 6.5 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Spotfin Corydoras ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 6.5 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °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.
- Upside-down Catfish ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 10 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- 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)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
Bumblebee Cichlid tank mates that can work with care
- Adolf's Cory ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Peaceful · 5.5 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)pH preferences only just meet (Bumblebee Cichlid 7.8–8.6 vs Adolf's Cory 5.8–7.2) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Agassiz's Corydoras ⚠️ With cautionEasy care · Peaceful · 6 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)pH preferences only just meet (Bumblebee Cichlid 7.8–8.6 vs Agassiz's Corydoras 6–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Amano Shrimp ⚠️ With cautionEasy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)Different pH ranges (7.8–8.6 vs 6.5–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Amazon Puffer ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Peaceful · 8 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)pH preferences only just meet (Bumblebee Cichlid 7.8–8.6 vs Amazon Puffer 6.5–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Assassin Snail ⚠️ With cautionEasy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)pH preferences only just meet (Bumblebee Cichlid 7.8–8.6 vs Assassin Snail 6.5–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Axelrod's Cory ⚠️ With cautionEasy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)Different pH ranges (7.8–8.6 vs 6–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Bamboo Shrimp ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Peaceful · 8 cm · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)Expect Bumblebee Cichlid to harass Bamboo Shrimp at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Bandit Corydoras ⚠️ With cautionEasy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)pH preferences only just meet (Bumblebee Cichlid 7.8–8.6 vs Bandit Corydoras 6–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
+ 98 more “with caution” pairings — see the interactive checker above.
Fish to avoid keeping with a bumblebee cichlid
- Mekong Giant Catfish ⛔ AvoidHard care · Semi-aggressive · 300 cm · 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)Bumblebee 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)Bumblebee 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)Bumblebee 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)Bumblebee 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: Bumblebee 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: Bumblebee Cichlid and Clown Knifefish will hold territory and clash.
- Koi ⛔ AvoidMedium care · Peaceful · 90 cm · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)Bumblebee Cichlid is bite-sized to a 90 cm koi — it will be eaten.
- Spotted Gar ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)Bumblebee Cichlid and Spotted Gar are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
+ 221 more to avoid — the checker above flags every one.
Check any fish against a bumblebee cichlid
Dial in your exact tank size and filter by result — the checker scores every species in our database against a bumblebee cichlid, with the reasoning for each verdict.
Tank-mate checker
Will it live with a Bumblebee Cichlid?
We compare each fish against your bumblebee cichlid on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.
- Corydoras Catfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6.5 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Corydoras Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- 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.
- Spotfin Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6.5 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °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.
- Keep Spotfin Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Spotted Talking Catfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 15 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Upside-down Catfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Banjo Catfish⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 15 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- pH preferences only just meet (Bumblebee Cichlid 7.8–8.6 vs Banjo Catfish 6–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Boesemani Rainbowfish⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 11 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Expect Bumblebee Cichlid to harass Boesemani Rainbowfish at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep Boesemani Rainbowfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Bristlenose Pleco⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 23–30 °C (73–86 °F)
- Different pH ranges (7.8–8.6 vs 6–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Denison Barb⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 15 cm · Medium care · 18–25 °C (64–77 °F)
- Bumblebee Cichlid is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Denison Barb — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- 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)
- pH preferences only just meet (Bumblebee Cichlid 7.8–8.6 vs Discus 5.5–7) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- One likes softer water and the other harder (10–20 vs 1–8 dGH) — a compromise, not a perfect match.
- 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)
- Different pH ranges (7.8–8.6 vs 5–7); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Water hardness preferences differ (Bumblebee Cichlid 10–20 vs Giant Betta 1–8 dGH).
- Bumblebee Cichlid and Giant Betta are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add giant betta in a group to spread the pressure.
- Giant Glass Catfish⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 15 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- pH preferences only just meet (Bumblebee Cichlid 7.8–8.6 vs Giant Glass Catfish 6.5–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Bumblebee Cichlid and Giant Glass Catfish are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add giant glass catfish in a group to spread the pressure.
- Giant Kuhli Loach⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- pH preferences only just meet (Bumblebee Cichlid 7.8–8.6 vs Giant Kuhli Loach 6–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Mascara Barb⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
- Different pH ranges (7.8–8.6 vs 6–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Bumblebee Cichlid and Mascara Barb are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add mascara barb in a group to spread the pressure.
- Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Medusa Pleco⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)
- pH preferences only just meet (Bumblebee Cichlid 7.8–8.6 vs Medusa Pleco 6.4–7.4) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Moonlight Gourami⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 15 cm · Easy care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
- Different pH ranges (7.8–8.6 vs 6–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Expect Bumblebee Cichlid to harass Moonlight Gourami at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Pearl Gourami⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- pH preferences only just meet (Bumblebee Cichlid 7.8–8.6 vs Pearl Gourami 6–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Bumblebee Cichlid and Pearl Gourami are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add pearl gourami in a group to spread the pressure.
- Rubber Lip Pleco⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Different pH ranges (7.8–8.6 vs 6.5–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Snowball Pleco⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 16 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Different pH ranges (7.8–8.6 vs 5.5–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Spotted Rubbernose Pleco⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- pH preferences only just meet (Bumblebee Cichlid 7.8–8.6 vs Spotted Rubbernose Pleco 6.5–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Striped Eel Loach⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Different pH ranges (7.8–8.6 vs 6–7.2); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Alligator Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 250 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Bumblebee Cichlid and Alligator Gar are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Bumblebee Cichlid is bite-sized to a 250 cm predatory alligator gar — it will be eaten.
- Your 200 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: Bumblebee Cichlid and Clown Knifefish will hold territory and clash.
- Bumblebee Cichlid is bite-sized to a 90 cm predatory clown knifefish — it will be eaten.
- pH preferences only just meet (Bumblebee Cichlid 7.8–8.6 vs Clown Knifefish 6–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Your 200 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: Bumblebee Cichlid and Fire Eel will hold territory and clash.
- Fire Eel (100 cm) is big enough to swallow the 15 cm Bumblebee Cichlid whole.
- pH preferences only just meet (Bumblebee Cichlid 7.8–8.6 vs Fire Eel 6.5–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Your 200 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Koi⛔ Not recommendedPeaceful · 90 cm · Medium care · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)
- Bumblebee Cichlid is bite-sized to a 90 cm koi — it will be eaten.
- Your 200 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)
- Bumblebee Cichlid and Mekong Giant Catfish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Different pH ranges (7.8–8.6 vs 6.5–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Your 200 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)
- Bumblebee 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 15 cm Bumblebee Cichlid whole.
- Different pH ranges (7.8–8.6 vs 6–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Your 200 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)
- Bumblebee Cichlid and Spotted Gar are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Size gap is too large (90 vs 15 cm): Spotted Gar will treat Bumblebee Cichlid as food.
- Different pH ranges (7.8–8.6 vs 6.5–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Your 200 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)
- Bumblebee 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 15 cm Bumblebee Cichlid whole.
- Different pH ranges (7.8–8.6 vs 6.5–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Your 200 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 bumblebee cichlid community tank
Give the group a stable, planted 200 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 bumblebee cichlid
Bumblebee 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.
Bumblebee Cichlid grows to about 15 cm, so avoid tank mates small enough to be seen as food — as a rule of thumb, skip anything under roughly 8 cm. Match its water, too: aim for 24–28 °C (75–82 °F), pH 7.8–8.6 and 10–20 dGH. Fish needing very different conditions — coldwater species, or hard-water lovers against a soft-water fish — rarely thrive side by side.
Bumblebee 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 bumblebee cichlid live with other fish?
Yes — with the right companions. Our checker finds 5 compatible freshwater species for bumblebee 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 bumblebee cichlid?
Easy, peaceful, similarly-sized species top the list — for example Corydoras Catfish, Spotfin Corydoras, Upside-down Catfish. Use the checker above to match against your own tank size.
What fish should you avoid keeping with a bumblebee 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 bumblebee cichlid tank mates need?
Start from Bumblebee Cichlid's own minimum and scale up with every addition. The checker above defaults to a 200 L community tank and flags pairings that need more room — drag the slider to match your setup.