Red Zebra Cichlid Tank Mates

Red Zebra Cichlid is aggressive, so its tank mates need choosing with care. Here are the 7 freshwater species that pair well with a red zebra cichlid — plus the 210 to avoid — with a live checker you can tune to your own tank.

The best tank mates for a red zebra cichlid

  • Corydoras Catfish ✅ Compatible
    Easy 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.
  • Spotfin Corydoras ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 6.5 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Upside-down Catfish ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 10 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Marbled Hoplo ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 14 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Spotted Talking Catfish ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 15 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Sterbai Corydoras ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Peaceful · 6.5 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.
  • Bearded Corydoras ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Peaceful · 10 cm · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
    Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.

Red Zebra 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)
    Different pH ranges (7.6–8.6 vs 5.8–7.2); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
  • Agassiz's Corydoras ⚠️ With caution
    Easy care · Peaceful · 6 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Different pH ranges (7.6–8.6 vs 6–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
  • Amano Shrimp ⚠️ With caution
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    pH preferences only just meet (Red Zebra Cichlid 7.6–8.6 vs Amano Shrimp 6.5–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
  • Amazon Puffer ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Peaceful · 8 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Different pH ranges (7.6–8.6 vs 6.5–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
  • Assassin Snail ⚠️ With caution
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Different pH ranges (7.6–8.6 vs 6.5–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
  • Axelrod's Cory ⚠️ With caution
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    pH preferences only just meet (Red Zebra Cichlid 7.6–8.6 vs Axelrod's Cory 6–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
  • Bamboo Shrimp ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Peaceful · 8 cm · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
    Red Zebra Cichlid clearly outsizes Bamboo Shrimp and is aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
  • Bandit Corydoras ⚠️ With caution
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
    Different pH ranges (7.6–8.6 vs 6–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.

+ 115 more “with caution” pairings — see the interactive checker above.

Fish to avoid keeping with a red zebra cichlid

  • Hard care · Semi-aggressive · 300 cm · 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)
    Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Red Zebra 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: Red Zebra 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: Red Zebra 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: Red Zebra Cichlid and Redtail Catfish will hold territory and clash.
  • Fire Eel ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 100 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Red Zebra 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)
    Red Zebra 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)
    Size gap is too large (90 vs 13 cm): Koi will treat Red Zebra Cichlid as food.
  • Spotted Gar ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Red Zebra Cichlid and Spotted Gar will hold territory and clash.

+ 202 more to avoid — the checker above flags every one.

Check any fish against a red zebra cichlid

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

Will it live with a Red Zebra Cichlid?

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

  • Bearded Corydoras✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Medium care · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
    • Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Red Zebra Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Corydoras Catfish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 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 Red Zebra Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Corydoras Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Marbled Hoplo✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 14 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Red Zebra Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Spotfin Corydoras✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6.5 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Red Zebra Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Spotfin Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Peaceful · 15 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Red Zebra Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Sterbai Corydoras✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6.5 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.
    • Keep Red Zebra Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Sterbai Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Upside-down Catfish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Red Zebra Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Banjo Catfish⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 15 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (7.6–8.6 vs 6–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Keep Red Zebra Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Boesemani Rainbowfish⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 11 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Expect Red Zebra Cichlid to harass Boesemani Rainbowfish at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Keep Red Zebra Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Boesemani Rainbowfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Bristlenose Pleco⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 23–30 °C (73–86 °F)
    • pH preferences only just meet (Red Zebra Cichlid 7.6–8.6 vs Bristlenose Pleco 6–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • Keep Red Zebra Cichlid 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)
    • Denison Barb is slow and long-finned; a busy red zebra cichlid shoal tends to nip at it. Keep red zebra cichlid in a proper group of 6+ and watch them closely.
    • Your 190 L tank is below the ~200 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Red Zebra Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Denison Barb 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)
    • pH preferences only just meet (Red Zebra Cichlid 7.6–8.6 vs Giant Betta 5–7) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • One likes softer water and the other harder (10–25 vs 1–8 dGH) — a compromise, not a perfect match.
    • Expect Red Zebra Cichlid to harass Giant Betta at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Keep Red Zebra Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Giant Glass Catfish⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 15 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (7.6–8.6 vs 6.5–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Red Zebra Cichlid is a notorious fin-nipper — even though Giant Glass Catfish is larger, an active shoal will harass its trailing fins. Only safe in a full group of 6+ with plenty of cover.
    • Keep Red Zebra Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Giant Kuhli Loach⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (7.6–8.6 vs 6–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Keep Red Zebra Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Mascara Barb⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
    • pH preferences only just meet (Red Zebra Cichlid 7.6–8.6 vs Mascara Barb 6–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • Red Zebra 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.
    • Your 190 L tank is below the ~200 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Red Zebra Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Medusa Pleco⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (7.6–8.6 vs 6.4–7.4); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Keep Red Zebra Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Moonlight Gourami⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 15 cm · Easy care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
    • pH preferences only just meet (Red Zebra Cichlid 7.6–8.6 vs Moonlight Gourami 6–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • Moonlight Gourami is slow and long-finned; a busy red zebra cichlid shoal tends to nip at it. Keep red zebra cichlid in a proper group of 6+ and watch them closely.
    • Keep Red Zebra Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Murray River Rainbowfish⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 11 cm · Easy care · 15–26 °C (59–79 °F)
    • Red Zebra Cichlid and Murray River Rainbowfish are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add murray river rainbowfish in a group to spread the pressure.
    • Keep Red Zebra Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • 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)
    • Different pH ranges (7.6–8.6 vs 6–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Expect Red Zebra Cichlid to harass Pearl Gourami at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Keep Red Zebra Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Rubber Lip Pleco⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    • pH preferences only just meet (Red Zebra Cichlid 7.6–8.6 vs Rubber Lip Pleco 6.5–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • Keep Red Zebra Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Snowball Pleco⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 16 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • pH preferences only just meet (Red Zebra Cichlid 7.6–8.6 vs Snowball Pleco 5.5–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • Keep Red Zebra Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Spotted Rubbernose Pleco⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (7.6–8.6 vs 6.5–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Keep Red Zebra Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Striped Eel Loach⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • pH preferences only just meet (Red Zebra Cichlid 7.6–8.6 vs Striped Eel Loach 6–7.2) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • Keep Red Zebra Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Alligator Gar⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 250 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Red Zebra Cichlid and Alligator Gar will hold territory and clash.
    • Alligator Gar (250 cm) is big enough to swallow the 13 cm Red Zebra Cichlid whole.
    • Alligator Gar is slow and long-finned; a busy red zebra cichlid shoal tends to nip at it. Keep red zebra cichlid in a proper group of 6+ and watch them closely.
    • Your 190 L tank is below the ~3785 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Red Zebra Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Clown Knifefish⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Red Zebra Cichlid and Clown Knifefish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
    • Red Zebra Cichlid is bite-sized to a 90 cm predatory clown knifefish — it will be eaten.
    • Different pH ranges (7.6–8.6 vs 6–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Your 190 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Red Zebra Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Fire Eel⛔ Not recommended
    Semi-aggressive · 100 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Red Zebra Cichlid and Fire Eel are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
    • Fire Eel (100 cm) is big enough to swallow the 13 cm Red Zebra Cichlid whole.
    • Different pH ranges (7.6–8.6 vs 6.5–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Your 190 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Red Zebra Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Koi⛔ Not recommended
    Peaceful · 90 cm · Medium care · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)
    • Size gap is too large (90 vs 13 cm): Koi will treat Red Zebra Cichlid as food.
    • Red Zebra Cichlid is a notorious fin-nipper — even though Koi is larger, an active shoal will harass its trailing fins. Only safe in a full group of 6+ with plenty of cover.
    • Your 190 L tank is below the ~3800 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Red Zebra Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Mekong Giant Catfish⛔ Not recommended
    Semi-aggressive · 300 cm · Hard care · 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)
    • Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Red Zebra Cichlid and Mekong Giant Catfish will hold territory and clash.
    • pH preferences only just meet (Red Zebra Cichlid 7.6–8.6 vs Mekong Giant Catfish 6.5–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • Mekong Giant Catfish is slow and long-finned; a busy red zebra cichlid shoal tends to nip at it. Keep red zebra cichlid in a proper group of 6+ and watch them closely.
    • Your 190 L tank is below the ~100000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Red Zebra Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Redtail Catfish⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 120 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Red Zebra Cichlid and Redtail Catfish will hold territory and clash.
    • Redtail Catfish (120 cm) is big enough to swallow the 13 cm Red Zebra Cichlid whole.
    • pH preferences only just meet (Red Zebra Cichlid 7.6–8.6 vs Redtail Catfish 6–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • Your 190 L tank is below the ~5700 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Red Zebra Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Spotted Gar⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    • Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Red Zebra Cichlid and Spotted Gar will hold territory and clash.
    • Spotted Gar (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 13 cm Red Zebra Cichlid whole.
    • pH preferences only just meet (Red Zebra Cichlid 7.6–8.6 vs Spotted Gar 6.5–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • Spotted Gar is slow and long-finned; a busy red zebra cichlid shoal tends to nip at it. Keep red zebra cichlid in a proper group of 6+ and watch them closely.
    • Your 190 L tank is below the ~600 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Red Zebra Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Wels Catfish⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 300 cm · Hard care · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
    • Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Red Zebra Cichlid and Wels Catfish will hold territory and clash.
    • Size gap is too large (300 vs 13 cm): Wels Catfish will treat Red Zebra Cichlid as food.
    • pH preferences only just meet (Red Zebra Cichlid 7.6–8.6 vs Wels Catfish 6.5–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • Your 190 L tank is below the ~20000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Red Zebra Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.

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 red zebra cichlid community tank

Give the group a stable, planted 190 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.

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases — buying through these links costs you nothing extra.

How to choose the right tank mates for a red zebra cichlid

Red Zebra 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.

Red Zebra Cichlid grows to about 13 cm, so avoid tank mates small enough to be seen as food — as a rule of thumb, skip anything under roughly 7 cm. Match its water, too: aim for 23–28 °C (73–82 °F), pH 7.6–8.6 and 10–25 dGH. Fish needing very different conditions — coldwater species, or hard-water lovers against a soft-water fish — rarely thrive side by side.

Red Zebra Cichlid is a shoaling fish — stock a group of 6+ 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 a red zebra cichlid live with other fish?

Yes — with the right companions. Our checker finds 7 compatible freshwater species for red zebra 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 red zebra 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 red zebra 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 red zebra cichlid tank mates need?

Start from Red Zebra Cichlid's own minimum and scale up with every addition. The checker above defaults to a 190 L community tank and flags pairings that need more room — drag the slider to match your setup.