Mayan Cichlid Tank Mates

Mayan Cichlid is aggressive, so its tank mates need choosing with care. Here are the 13 freshwater species that pair well with a mayan cichlid — plus the 259 to avoid — with a live checker you can tune to your own tank.

By The Aquarium DB Team • Updated June 7, 2026 • Full Mayan Cichlid care guide →
Best matches

The best tank mates for a mayan cichlid

  • Bristlenose Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 12 cm · 23–30 °C (73–86 °F)
    Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–30 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Rubber Lip Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 12 cm · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 20–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Marbled Hoplo ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 14 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Spotted Talking Catfish ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 15 cm · 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.
  • Weather Loach ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 25 cm · 5–24 °C (41–75 °F)
    Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 20–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Medusa Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Peaceful · 12 cm · 26–30 °C (79–86 °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 Rubbernose Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Peaceful · 12 cm · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 20–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Snowball Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Peaceful · 16 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–30 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Goldfish ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Peaceful · 30 cm · 18–22 °C (64–72 °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.
  • Yellow-spotted Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Peaceful · 35 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Common Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Peaceful · 45 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Sailfin Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Medium 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 ✅ Compatible
    Hard care · Peaceful · 35 cm · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–29 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
With caution

Mayan Cichlid tank mates that can work with care

  • Adolf's Cory ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Peaceful · 5.5 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Mayan 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 caution
    Easy care · Peaceful · 6 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Mayan Cichlid may bully the smaller Agassiz's Corydoras, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
  • Amano Shrimp ⚠️ With caution
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    Mayan Cichlid may eat Amano Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
  • Assassin Snail ⚠️ With caution
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Mayan 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 caution
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Mayan Cichlid may bully the smaller Axelrod's Cory, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
  • Bamboo Shrimp ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Peaceful · 8 cm · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
    Mayan Cichlid is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Bamboo Shrimp — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
  • Bandit Corydoras ⚠️ With caution
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
    Mayan 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 caution
    Medium care · Peaceful · 15 cm · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    Watch for Mayan Cichlid picking off any banjo catfish small enough to fit in its mouth.

+ 60 more “with caution” pairings — see the interactive checker above.

Avoid

Fish to avoid keeping with a mayan cichlid

  • Mekong Giant Catfish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Semi-aggressive · 300 cm · 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)
    Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Mayan Cichlid and Mekong Giant Catfish will hold territory and clash.
  • Wels Catfish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 300 cm · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
    Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Mayan Cichlid and Wels Catfish will hold territory and clash.
  • Alligator Gar ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 250 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Mayan Cichlid and Alligator Gar will hold territory and clash.
  • Redtail Catfish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 120 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Mayan Cichlid and Redtail Catfish will hold territory and clash.
  • Fire Eel ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 100 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Mayan Cichlid and Fire Eel are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
  • Clown Knifefish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Mayan Cichlid and Clown Knifefish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
  • Koi ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Peaceful · 90 cm · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)
    Mayan Cichlid is bite-sized to a 90 cm koi — it will be eaten.
  • Spotted Gar ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Mayan Cichlid and Spotted Gar will hold territory and clash.

+ 251 more to avoid — the checker above flags every one.

Interactive tool

Check any fish against a mayan cichlid

Dial in your exact tank size and filter by result — the checker scores every species in our database against a mayan cichlid, with the reasoning for each verdict.

Tank-mate checker

Will it live with a Mayan Cichlid?

We compare each fish against your mayan cichlid on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.

  • Bristlenose Pleco✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 23–30 °C (73–86 °F)
    • Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–30 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Common Pleco✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 45 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Elephant-nose Knifefish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 35 cm · Hard care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–29 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Goldfish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 30 cm · Medium care · 18–22 °C (64–72 °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.
  • Marbled Hoplo✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 14 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Medusa Pleco✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 26–30 °C (79–86 °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.
  • Rubber Lip Pleco✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    • Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 20–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Sailfin Pleco✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 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✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 16 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–30 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Spotted Rubbernose Pleco✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 20–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Spotted Talking Catfish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 15 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.
  • Weather Loach✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 25 cm · Easy care · 5–24 °C (41–75 °F)
    • Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 20–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Yellow-spotted Pleco✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 35 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Banjo Catfish⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 15 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    • Watch for Mayan Cichlid picking off any banjo catfish small enough to fit in its mouth.
  • Bearded Corydoras⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Medium care · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
    • Mayan 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 caution
    Peaceful · 60 cm · Hard care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Watch for Black Doras Catfish picking off any mayan cichlid small enough to fit in its mouth.
    • Your 380 L tank is below the ~500 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Boesemani Rainbowfish⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 11 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Expect Mayan Cichlid to harass Boesemani Rainbowfish at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Boesemani Rainbowfish is small enough to tempt Mayan Cichlid; only risk it in a densely planted setup with hiding spots.
    • Keep Boesemani Rainbowfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Clown Loach⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 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.
  • Clown Rasbora⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Mayan Cichlid is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Clown Rasbora — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Watch for Mayan Cichlid picking off any clown rasbora small enough to fit in its mouth.
    • Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Denison Barb⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 15 cm · Medium care · 18–25 °C (64–77 °F)
    • Mayan Cichlid is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Denison Barb — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Mayan 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 caution
    Peaceful · 20 cm · Hard care · 28–31 °C (82–88 °F)
    • Mayan Cichlid is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Discus — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Keep Discus in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Giant Betta⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Mayan Cichlid clearly outsizes Giant Betta and is aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
    • Mayan Cichlid may hunt Giant Betta, fry or shrimplets — safest in a heavily planted tank.
  • Giant Glass Catfish⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 15 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
    • Mayan Cichlid is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Giant Glass Catfish — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
  • Giant Kuhli Loach⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Watch for Mayan Cichlid picking off any giant kuhli loach small enough to fit in its mouth.
  • Mascara Barb⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
    • Expect Mayan Cichlid to harass Mascara Barb at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Mascara Barb is small enough to tempt Mayan Cichlid; only risk it in a densely planted setup with hiding spots.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Moonlight Gourami⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 15 cm · Easy care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
    • Mayan Cichlid clearly outsizes Moonlight Gourami and is aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
    • Moonlight Gourami is small enough to tempt Mayan Cichlid; only risk it in a densely planted setup with hiding spots.
  • Murray River Rainbowfish⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 11 cm · Easy care · 15–26 °C (59–79 °F)
    • Mayan Cichlid is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Murray River Rainbowfish — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Mayan Cichlid may hunt Murray River Rainbowfish, fry or shrimplets — safest in a heavily planted tank.
    • Keep Murray River Rainbowfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Pearl Gourami⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Mayan Cichlid clearly outsizes Pearl Gourami and is aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
    • Watch for Mayan Cichlid picking off any pearl gourami small enough to fit in its mouth.
  • Striped Eel Loach⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Striped Eel Loach is small enough to tempt Mayan Cichlid; only risk it in a densely planted setup with hiding spots.
  • Alligator Gar⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 250 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Mayan Cichlid and Alligator Gar will hold territory and clash.
    • Mayan 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 recommended
    Aggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Mayan Cichlid and Clown Knifefish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
    • Mayan Cichlid is bite-sized to a 90 cm predatory clown knifefish — it will be eaten.
    • Your 380 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Fire Eel⛔ Not recommended
    Semi-aggressive · 100 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Mayan Cichlid and Fire Eel are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
    • Size gap is too large (100 vs 28 cm): Fire Eel will treat Mayan Cichlid as food.
  • Koi⛔ Not recommended
    Peaceful · 90 cm · Medium care · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)
    • Mayan Cichlid is bite-sized to a 90 cm koi — it will be eaten.
    • Your 380 L tank is below the ~3800 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Mekong Giant Catfish⛔ Not recommended
    Semi-aggressive · 300 cm · Hard care · 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)
    • Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Mayan Cichlid and Mekong Giant Catfish will hold territory and clash.
    • Your 380 L tank is below the ~100000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Redtail Catfish⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 120 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Mayan Cichlid and Redtail Catfish will hold territory and clash.
    • Size gap is too large (120 vs 28 cm): Redtail Catfish will treat Mayan Cichlid as food.
    • Your 380 L tank is below the ~5700 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Spotted Gar⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    • Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Mayan Cichlid and Spotted Gar will hold territory and clash.
    • Mayan 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 recommended
    Aggressive · 300 cm · Hard care · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
    • Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Mayan Cichlid and Wels Catfish will hold territory and clash.
    • Wels Catfish (300 cm) is big enough to swallow the 28 cm Mayan 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 mayan 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

How to choose the right tank mates for a mayan cichlid

Mayan 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.

Mayan Cichlid grows to about 28 cm, so avoid tank mates small enough to be seen as food — as a rule of thumb, skip anything under roughly 14 cm. Match its water, too: aim for 20–30 °C (68–86 °F), pH 6.7–8 and 8–18 dGH. Fish needing very different conditions — coldwater species, or hard-water lovers against a soft-water fish — rarely thrive side by side.

Mayan 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.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Can a mayan cichlid live with other fish?

Yes — with the right companions. Our checker finds 13 compatible freshwater species for mayan 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 mayan 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 mayan 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 mayan cichlid tank mates need?

Start from Mayan 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.

← Back to the full Mayan Cichlid care guide