Electric Yellow Cichlid Tank Mates
Electric Yellow Cichlid is semi-aggressive, so its tank mates need choosing with care. Here are the 11 freshwater species that pair well with an electric yellow cichlid — plus the 75 to avoid — with a live checker you can tune to your own tank.
The best tank mates for an electric yellow cichlid
- Japanese Trapdoor Snail ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 10–28 °C (50–82 °F)Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Corydoras Catfish ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 6.5 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °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.
- Spotfin Corydoras ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 6.5 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °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.
- Upside-down Catfish ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 10 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Murray River Rainbowfish ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 11 cm · 15–26 °C (59–79 °F)Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Marbled Hoplo ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 14 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Spotted Talking Catfish ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 15 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Blue Turbo Snail ✅ CompatibleMedium care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 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.
- Boesemani Rainbowfish ✅ CompatibleMedium care · Peaceful · 11 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Denison Barb ✅ CompatibleMedium care · Peaceful · 15 cm · 18–25 °C (64–77 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–25 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Panda Loach ✅ CompatibleHard care · Peaceful · 6 cm · 18–23 °C (64–73 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–23 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
Electric Yellow Cichlid tank mates that can work with care
- Adolf's Cory ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Peaceful · 5.5 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)Different pH ranges (7.8–8.9 vs 5.8–7.2); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Afra Cichlid ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
- African Butterfly Cichlid ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 8 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)Different pH ranges (7.8–8.9 vs 6–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- African Dwarf Frog ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)Electric Yellow Cichlid may hunt African Dwarf Frog, fry or shrimplets — safest in a heavily planted tank.
- Agassiz's Corydoras ⚠️ With cautionEasy care · Peaceful · 6 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)Different pH ranges (7.8–8.9 vs 6–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 9 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)pH preferences only just meet (Electric Yellow Cichlid 7.8–8.9 vs Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid 5–7) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Altifrons Geophagus ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)pH preferences only just meet (Electric Yellow Cichlid 7.8–8.9 vs Altifrons Geophagus 5–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Amano Shrimp ⚠️ With cautionEasy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)pH preferences only just meet (Electric Yellow Cichlid 7.8–8.9 vs Amano Shrimp 6.5–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
+ 246 more “with caution” pairings — see the interactive checker above.
Fish to avoid keeping with an electric yellow cichlid
- Wels Catfish ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 300 cm · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Electric Yellow Cichlid and Wels Catfish will hold territory and clash.
- Alligator Gar ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 250 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Electric Yellow Cichlid and Alligator Gar will hold territory and clash.
- Redtail Catfish ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 120 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Electric Yellow Cichlid and Redtail Catfish will hold territory and clash.
- Fire Eel ⛔ AvoidMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 100 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)Electric Yellow Cichlid is bite-sized to a 100 cm predatory fire eel — it will be eaten.
- Clown Knifefish ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)Electric Yellow Cichlid and Clown Knifefish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Koi ⛔ AvoidMedium care · Peaceful · 90 cm · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)Koi (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 10 cm Electric Yellow Cichlid whole.
- Spotted Gar ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Electric Yellow Cichlid and Spotted Gar will hold territory and clash.
- Wolf Cichlid ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 72 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)Electric Yellow Cichlid and Wolf Cichlid are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
+ 67 more to avoid — the checker above flags every one.
Check any fish against an electric yellow cichlid
Dial in your exact tank size and filter by result — the checker scores every species in our database against an electric yellow cichlid, with the reasoning for each verdict.
Tank-mate checker
Will it live with a Electric Yellow Cichlid?
We compare each fish against your electric yellow cichlid on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.
- Blue Turbo Snail✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 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.
- Boesemani Rainbowfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 11 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Boesemani Rainbowfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Corydoras Catfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6.5 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °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 Corydoras Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Denison Barb✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 15 cm · Medium care · 18–25 °C (64–77 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–25 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Denison Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Japanese Trapdoor Snail✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 10–28 °C (50–82 °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.
- Marbled Hoplo✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 14 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–26 °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.
- 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 23–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Murray River Rainbowfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Panda Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Hard care · 18–23 °C (64–73 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–23 °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.
- Spotfin Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6.5 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °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 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)
- 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.
- Upside-down Catfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °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.
- Afra Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 10 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
- Keep Afra Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Bearded Corydoras⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 10 cm · Medium care · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
- pH preferences only just meet (Electric Yellow Cichlid 7.8–8.9 vs Bearded Corydoras 6–7.6) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Clown Rasbora⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 10 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- pH preferences only just meet (Electric Yellow Cichlid 7.8–8.9 vs Clown Rasbora 5.5–7) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Expect Electric Yellow Cichlid to harass Clown Rasbora at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep Clown 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)
- Electric Yellow Cichlid and Daffodil Cichlid can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
- Giant Danio⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 20–27 °C (68–81 °F)
- Different pH ranges (7.8–8.9 vs 6.5–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Expect Electric Yellow Cichlid to harass Giant Danio at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep Giant Danio 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)
- Different pH ranges (7.8–8.9 vs 6–7.5); 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.
- Keyhole Cichlid⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- pH preferences only just meet (Electric Yellow Cichlid 7.8–8.9 vs Keyhole Cichlid 6–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Electric Yellow Cichlid is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Keyhole Cichlid — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Kribensis⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 10 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- pH preferences only just meet (Electric Yellow Cichlid 7.8–8.9 vs Kribensis 6–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Electric Yellow Cichlid and Kribensis can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
- Kuhli Loach⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Different pH ranges (7.8–8.9 vs 5.5–7); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Water hardness preferences differ (Electric Yellow Cichlid 10–20 vs Kuhli Loach 1–8 dGH).
- Molly⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Expect Electric Yellow Cichlid to harass Molly at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Porthole Catfish⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- pH preferences only just meet (Electric Yellow Cichlid 7.8–8.9 vs Porthole Catfish 6–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- 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 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)
- Electric Yellow Cichlid and Rusty Cichlid can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
- Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 10 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Electric Yellow Cichlid and Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
- Topaz Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 10 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Different pH ranges (7.8–8.9 vs 6.5–7.5); 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.
- Zebra Pleco⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 10 cm · Hard care · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)
- pH preferences only just meet (Electric Yellow Cichlid 7.8–8.9 vs Zebra Pleco 6.5–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Alligator Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 250 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Electric Yellow Cichlid and Alligator Gar will hold territory and clash.
- Electric Yellow 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)
- Electric Yellow Cichlid and Clown Knifefish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Clown Knifefish (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 10 cm Electric Yellow Cichlid whole.
- Different pH ranges (7.8–8.9 vs 6–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- 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)
- Electric Yellow Cichlid is bite-sized to a 100 cm predatory fire eel — it will be eaten.
- Different pH ranges (7.8–8.9 vs 6.5–7.5); 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 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)
- Koi (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 10 cm Electric Yellow Cichlid whole.
- Your 200 L tank is below the ~3800 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Redtail Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 120 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Electric Yellow Cichlid and Redtail Catfish will hold territory and clash.
- Redtail Catfish (120 cm) is big enough to swallow the 10 cm Electric Yellow Cichlid whole.
- pH preferences only just meet (Electric Yellow Cichlid 7.8–8.9 vs Redtail Catfish 6–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- 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)
- Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Electric Yellow Cichlid and Spotted Gar will hold territory and clash.
- Electric Yellow Cichlid is bite-sized to a 90 cm predatory spotted gar — it will be eaten.
- pH preferences only just meet (Electric Yellow Cichlid 7.8–8.9 vs Spotted Gar 6.5–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- 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)
- Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Electric Yellow Cichlid and Wels Catfish will hold territory and clash.
- Size gap is too large (300 vs 10 cm): Wels Catfish will treat Electric Yellow Cichlid as food.
- pH preferences only just meet (Electric Yellow Cichlid 7.8–8.9 vs Wels Catfish 6.5–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Your 200 L tank is below the ~20000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Wolf Cichlid⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 72 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Electric Yellow Cichlid and Wolf Cichlid are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Electric Yellow Cichlid is bite-sized to a 72 cm predatory wolf cichlid — it will be eaten.
- Your 200 L tank is below the ~760 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 an electric yellow 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 an electric yellow cichlid
Being semi-aggressive, electric yellow cichlid can nip or harass smaller, slower or long-finned fish — give it space, broken sight-lines and similarly robust companions. It mostly occupies the bottom of the tank, so it pairs naturally with species that use the other levels.
Electric Yellow Cichlid grows to about 10 cm, so avoid tank mates small enough to be seen as food — as a rule of thumb, skip anything under roughly 5 cm. Match its water, too: aim for 23–26 °C (73–79 °F), pH 7.8–8.9 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.
Electric Yellow Cichlid is a shoaling fish — stock a group of 3+ of its own kind first, then build compatible tank mates around them. 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 an electric yellow cichlid live with other fish?
Yes — with the right companions. Our checker finds 11 compatible freshwater species for electric yellow 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 an electric yellow cichlid?
Easy, peaceful, similarly-sized species top the list — for example Japanese Trapdoor Snail, Corydoras Catfish, Spotfin Corydoras. Use the checker above to match against your own tank size.
What fish should you avoid keeping with an electric yellow cichlid?
Avoid Wels Catfish, Alligator Gar, Redtail Catfish and similar — usually a temperature, size or temperament clash. The full "avoid" list below gives the reason for each.
How big a tank do electric yellow cichlid tank mates need?
Start from Electric Yellow 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.