Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid Tank Mates

Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid is semi-aggressive, so its tank mates need choosing with care. Here are the 7 freshwater species that pair well with a tanganyikan butterfly cichlid — plus the 74 to avoid — with a live checker you can tune to your own tank.

By The Aquarium DB Team • Updated June 8, 2026 • Full Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid care guide →
Best matches

The best tank mates for a tanganyikan butterfly cichlid

  • Japanese Trapdoor Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 10–28 °C (50–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Upside-down Catfish ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 10 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Murray River Rainbowfish ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 11 cm · 15–26 °C (59–79 °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.
  • Marbled Hoplo ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 14 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °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)
    Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Blue Turbo Snail ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
    Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 25–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Boesemani Rainbowfish ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Peaceful · 11 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
With caution

Tanganyikan Butterfly 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)
    pH preferences only just meet (Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid 8–9 vs Adolf's Cory 5.8–7.2) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
  • Afra Cichlid ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid and Afra Cichlid can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
  • African Butterfly Cichlid ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 8 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    pH preferences only just meet (Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid 8–9 vs African Butterfly Cichlid 6–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
  • African Dwarf Frog ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Different pH ranges (8–9 vs 6.8–7.8); 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)
    pH preferences only just meet (Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid 8–9 vs Agassiz's Corydoras 6–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
  • Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 9 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    Different pH ranges (8–9 vs 5–7); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
  • Altifrons Geophagus ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Different pH ranges (8–9 vs 5–7.5); 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)
    Different pH ranges (8–9 vs 6.5–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.

+ 251 more “with caution” pairings — see the interactive checker above.

Avoid

Fish to avoid keeping with a tanganyikan butterfly cichlid

  • Wels Catfish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 300 cm · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
    Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid and Wels Catfish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
  • Alligator Gar ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 250 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid and Alligator Gar are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
  • Redtail Catfish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 120 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid and Redtail Catfish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
  • Fire Eel ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 100 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Size gap is too large (100 vs 10 cm): Fire Eel will treat Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid as food.
  • Clown Knifefish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid and Clown Knifefish will hold territory and clash.
  • Koi ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Peaceful · 90 cm · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)
    Size gap is too large (90 vs 10 cm): Koi will treat Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid as food.
  • Spotted Gar ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid and Spotted Gar are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
  • Wolf Cichlid ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 72 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid and Wolf Cichlid will hold territory and clash.

+ 66 more to avoid — the checker above flags every one.

Interactive tool

Check any fish against a tanganyikan butterfly cichlid

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

Tank-mate checker

Will it live with a Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid?

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

  • Blue Turbo Snail✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 5 cm · Medium care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
    • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 25–28 °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.
  • Boesemani Rainbowfish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 11 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Boesemani Rainbowfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Japanese Trapdoor Snail✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 10–28 °C (50–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °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.
  • Marbled Hoplo✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 14 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °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✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 11 cm · Easy care · 15–26 °C (59–79 °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.
    • Keep Murray River Rainbowfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Spotted Talking Catfish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 15 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–26 °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✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–26 °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 caution
    Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid and Afra Cichlid can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
    • Your 130 L tank is below the ~150 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Afra Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Bearded Corydoras⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Medium care · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (8–9 vs 6–7.6); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Clown Rasbora⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (8–9 vs 5.5–7); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Clown Rasbora — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Daffodil Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · Medium care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    • Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
  • Electric Yellow Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · Medium care · 23–26 °C (73–79 °F)
    • Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid and Electric Yellow Cichlid can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
    • Your 130 L tank is below the ~200 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Giant Danio⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 20–27 °C (68–81 °F)
    • pH preferences only just meet (Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid 8–9 vs Giant Danio 6.5–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Giant Danio — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Keep Giant Danio in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Golden Wonder Killifish⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • pH preferences only just meet (Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid 8–9 vs Golden Wonder Killifish 6–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid and Golden Wonder Killifish can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
  • Keyhole Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (8–9 vs 6–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Expect Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid to harass Keyhole Cichlid at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
  • Kribensis⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (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.
  • Kuhli Loach⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • pH preferences only just meet (Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid 8–9 vs Kuhli Loach 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.
  • Molly⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Expect Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid to harass Molly at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
  • Porthole Catfish⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (8–9 vs 6–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
  • Rosy Barb⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    • Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid and Rosy Barb can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
    • Keep Rosy Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Rusty Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Semi-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.
    • Your 130 L tank is below the ~150 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Topaz Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • pH preferences only just meet (Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid 8–9 vs Topaz Cichlid 6.5–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid and Topaz Cichlid can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
  • Zebra Pleco⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Hard care · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (8–9 vs 6.5–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
  • Alligator Gar⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 250 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid and Alligator Gar are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
    • Size gap is too large (250 vs 10 cm): Alligator Gar will treat Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid as food.
    • Different pH ranges (8–9 vs 6.8–7.8); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Your 130 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)
    • Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid and Clown Knifefish will hold territory and clash.
    • Clown Knifefish (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 10 cm Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid whole.
    • pH preferences only just meet (Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid 8–9 vs Clown Knifefish 6–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • Your 130 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)
    • Size gap is too large (100 vs 10 cm): Fire Eel will treat Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid as food.
    • pH preferences only just meet (Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid 8–9 vs Fire Eel 6.5–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid and Fire Eel can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
    • Your 130 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Koi⛔ Not recommended
    Peaceful · 90 cm · Medium care · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)
    • Size gap is too large (90 vs 10 cm): Koi will treat Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid as food.
    • Your 130 L tank is below the ~3800 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Redtail Catfish⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 120 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid and Redtail Catfish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
    • Size gap is too large (120 vs 10 cm): Redtail Catfish will treat Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid as food.
    • Different pH ranges (8–9 vs 6–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Your 130 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)
    • Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid and Spotted Gar are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
    • Size gap is too large (90 vs 10 cm): Spotted Gar will treat Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid as food.
    • Different pH ranges (8–9 vs 6.5–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Your 130 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)
    • Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid and Wels Catfish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
    • Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid is bite-sized to a 300 cm predatory wels catfish — it will be eaten.
    • Different pH ranges (8–9 vs 6.5–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Your 130 L tank is below the ~20000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Wolf Cichlid⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 72 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid and Wolf Cichlid will hold territory and clash.
    • Size gap is too large (72 vs 10 cm): Wolf Cichlid will treat Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid as food.
    • Your 130 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 a tanganyikan butterfly cichlid community tank

Give the group a stable, planted 130 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 tanganyikan butterfly cichlid

Being semi-aggressive, tanganyikan butterfly 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.

Tanganyikan Butterfly 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 24–28 °C (75–82 °F), pH 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.

Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid is a shoaling fish — stock a group of 5+ 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.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Can a tanganyikan butterfly cichlid live with other fish?

Yes — with the right companions. Our checker finds 7 compatible freshwater species for tanganyikan butterfly 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 tanganyikan butterfly cichlid?

Easy, peaceful, similarly-sized species top the list — for example Japanese Trapdoor Snail, Upside-down Catfish, Murray River Rainbowfish. Use the checker above to match against your own tank size.

What fish should you avoid keeping with a tanganyikan butterfly 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 tanganyikan butterfly cichlid tank mates need?

Start from Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid's own minimum and scale up with every addition. The checker above defaults to a 130 L community tank and flags pairings that need more room — drag the slider to match your setup.

← Back to the full Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid care guide