Pearlscale Cichlid Tank Mates
Pearlscale Cichlid is aggressive, so its tank mates need choosing with care. Here are the 6 freshwater species that pair well with a pearlscale cichlid — plus the 264 to avoid — with a live checker you can tune to your own tank.
The best tank mates for a pearlscale cichlid
- 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; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- 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.
- Snowball Pleco ✅ CompatibleMedium care · Peaceful · 16 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Yellow-spotted Pleco ✅ CompatibleMedium 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.
- 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.
Pearlscale Cichlid tank mates that can work with care
- Adolf's Cory ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Peaceful · 5.5 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)Pearlscale 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)Pearlscale 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 cautionEasy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)Pearlscale Cichlid may eat Amano Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
- Assassin Snail ⚠️ With cautionEasy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)Pearlscale 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)Pearlscale 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 cautionMedium care · Peaceful · 8 cm · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)Expect Pearlscale 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)Pearlscale 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 Pearlscale Cichlid; only risk it in a densely planted setup with hiding spots.
+ 62 more “with caution” pairings — see the interactive checker above.
Fish to avoid keeping with a pearlscale cichlid
- Mekong Giant Catfish ⛔ AvoidHard care · Semi-aggressive · 300 cm · 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Pearlscale Cichlid and Mekong Giant Catfish will hold territory and clash.
- Wels Catfish ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 300 cm · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Pearlscale 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: Pearlscale 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: Pearlscale Cichlid and Redtail Catfish will hold territory and clash.
- Fire Eel ⛔ AvoidMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 100 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)Pearlscale Cichlid and Fire Eel are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Clown Knifefish ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)Pearlscale 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)Size gap is too large (90 vs 30 cm): Koi will treat Pearlscale Cichlid as food.
- Spotted Gar ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Pearlscale Cichlid and Spotted Gar will hold territory and clash.
+ 256 more to avoid — the checker above flags every one.
Check any fish against a pearlscale cichlid
Dial in your exact tank size and filter by result — the checker scores every species in our database against a pearlscale cichlid, with the reasoning for each verdict.
Tank-mate checker
Will it live with a Pearlscale Cichlid?
We compare each fish against your pearlscale cichlid on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.
- 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.
- 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.
- Snowball Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 16 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Spotted Talking Catfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 15 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.
- 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)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Banjo Catfish⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 15 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Banjo Catfish is small enough to tempt Pearlscale Cichlid; only risk it in a densely planted setup with hiding spots.
- Black Doras Catfish⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 60 cm · Hard care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Black Doras Catfish may hunt Pearlscale Cichlid, fry or shrimplets — safest in a heavily planted tank.
- Your 280 L tank is below the ~500 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Bristlenose Pleco⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 23–30 °C (73–86 °F)
- Pearlscale Cichlid may bully the smaller Bristlenose Pleco, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Clown Loach⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 30 cm · Medium care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
- Your 280 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)
- Your 280 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Denison Barb⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 15 cm · Medium care · 18–25 °C (64–77 °F)
- Expect Pearlscale Cichlid to harass Denison Barb at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Denison Barb is small enough to tempt Pearlscale Cichlid; only risk it in a densely planted setup with hiding spots.
- 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)
- Expect Pearlscale Cichlid to harass Discus at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- 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)
- Pearlscale Cichlid clearly outsizes Giant Betta and is aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Watch for Pearlscale Cichlid picking off any giant betta small enough to fit in its mouth.
- Giant Glass Catfish⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 15 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Expect Pearlscale Cichlid to harass Giant Glass Catfish at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Giant Kuhli Loach⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Pearlscale Cichlid may hunt Giant Kuhli Loach, fry or shrimplets — safest in a heavily planted tank.
- Goldfish⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 30 cm · Medium care · 18–22 °C (64–72 °F)
- Expect Pearlscale Cichlid to harass Goldfish at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Mascara Barb⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
- Expect Pearlscale Cichlid to harass Mascara Barb at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Watch for Pearlscale 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.
- Medusa Pleco⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)
- Pearlscale Cichlid may bully the smaller Medusa Pleco, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Moonlight Gourami⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 15 cm · Easy care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
- Pearlscale Cichlid clearly outsizes Moonlight Gourami and is aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Pearlscale Cichlid may hunt Moonlight Gourami, fry or shrimplets — safest in a heavily planted tank.
- Pearl Gourami⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Pearlscale Cichlid clearly outsizes Pearl Gourami and is aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Pearlscale Cichlid may hunt Pearl Gourami, fry or shrimplets — safest in a heavily planted tank.
- Sailfin Pleco⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 50 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Your 280 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Alligator Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 250 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Pearlscale Cichlid and Alligator Gar will hold territory and clash.
- Pearlscale Cichlid is bite-sized to a 250 cm predatory alligator gar — it will be eaten.
- Your 280 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)
- Pearlscale Cichlid and Clown Knifefish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Size gap is too large (90 vs 30 cm): Clown Knifefish will treat Pearlscale Cichlid as food.
- Your 280 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)
- Pearlscale Cichlid and Fire Eel are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Size gap is too large (100 vs 30 cm): Fire Eel will treat Pearlscale Cichlid as food.
- Your 280 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)
- Size gap is too large (90 vs 30 cm): Koi will treat Pearlscale Cichlid as food.
- Your 280 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)
- Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Pearlscale Cichlid and Mekong Giant Catfish will hold territory and clash.
- Your 280 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)
- Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Pearlscale Cichlid and Redtail Catfish will hold territory and clash.
- Size gap is too large (120 vs 30 cm): Redtail Catfish will treat Pearlscale Cichlid as food.
- Your 280 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: Pearlscale Cichlid and Spotted Gar will hold territory and clash.
- Size gap is too large (90 vs 30 cm): Spotted Gar will treat Pearlscale Cichlid as food.
- Your 280 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: Pearlscale Cichlid and Wels Catfish will hold territory and clash.
- Size gap is too large (300 vs 30 cm): Wels Catfish will treat Pearlscale Cichlid as food.
- Your 280 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 pearlscale cichlid community tank
Give the group a stable, planted 280 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 pearlscale cichlid
Pearlscale 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.
Pearlscale Cichlid grows to about 30 cm, so avoid tank mates small enough to be seen as food — as a rule of thumb, skip anything under roughly 15 cm. Match its water, too: aim for 22–28 °C (72–82 °F), pH 7–8 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.
Pearlscale 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 pearlscale cichlid live with other fish?
Yes — with the right companions. Our checker finds 6 compatible freshwater species for pearlscale 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 pearlscale cichlid?
Easy, peaceful, similarly-sized species top the list — for example Marbled Hoplo, Spotted Talking Catfish, Weather Loach. Use the checker above to match against your own tank size.
What fish should you avoid keeping with a pearlscale 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 pearlscale cichlid tank mates need?
Start from Pearlscale Cichlid's own minimum and scale up with every addition. The checker above defaults to a 280 L community tank and flags pairings that need more room — drag the slider to match your setup.