White Spotted Cichlid Tank Mates

White Spotted Cichlid is aggressive, so its tank mates need choosing with care. Here are the 12 freshwater species that pair well with a white spotted cichlid — plus the 164 to avoid — with a live checker you can tune to your own tank.

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

The best tank mates for a white spotted cichlid

  • Red Lip Nerite Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2 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.
  • Cherry Shrimp ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Malaysian Trumpet Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 21–27 °C (70–81 °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.
  • Ghost Shrimp ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Japanese Trapdoor Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 10–28 °C (50–82 °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.
  • Corydoras Catfish ✅ 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 24–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Spotfin Corydoras ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 6.5 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °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)
    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)
    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.
  • African Dwarf Frog ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Blue Turbo Snail ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 25–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
With caution

White Spotted 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 (White Spotted Cichlid 7.8–9 vs Adolf's Cory 5.8–7.2) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
  • Agassiz's Corydoras ⚠️ With caution
    Easy care · Peaceful · 6 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    pH preferences only just meet (White Spotted Cichlid 7.8–9 vs Agassiz's Corydoras 6–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
  • Amano Shrimp ⚠️ With caution
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    Different pH ranges (7.8–9 vs 6.5–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
  • Amapá Tetra ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    pH preferences only just meet (White Spotted Cichlid 7.8–9 vs Amapá Tetra 6–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
  • Amazon Puffer ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Peaceful · 8 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    pH preferences only just meet (White Spotted Cichlid 7.8–9 vs Amazon Puffer 6.5–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
  • Assassin Snail ⚠️ With caution
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    pH preferences only just meet (White Spotted Cichlid 7.8–9 vs Assassin Snail 6.5–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
  • Axelrod's Cory ⚠️ With caution
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Different pH ranges (7.8–9 vs 6–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
  • Bamboo Shrimp ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Peaceful · 8 cm · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
    White Spotted Cichlid is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Bamboo Shrimp — plant heavily and break up sight lines.

+ 156 more “with caution” pairings — see the interactive checker above.

Avoid

Fish to avoid keeping with a white spotted cichlid

  • Mekong Giant Catfish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Semi-aggressive · 300 cm · 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)
    White Spotted Cichlid and Mekong Giant Catfish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
  • Wels Catfish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 300 cm · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
    White Spotted 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)
    White Spotted 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)
    White Spotted 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)
    Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: White Spotted Cichlid and Fire Eel will hold territory and clash.
  • Clown Knifefish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: White Spotted 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 12 cm): Koi will treat White Spotted Cichlid as food.
  • Spotted Gar ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    White Spotted Cichlid and Spotted Gar are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.

+ 156 more to avoid — the checker above flags every one.

Interactive tool

Check any fish against a white spotted cichlid

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

Tank-mate checker

Will it live with a White Spotted Cichlid?

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

  • African Dwarf Frog✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep White Spotted Cichlid in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Blue Turbo Snail✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 5 cm · Medium care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 25–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep White Spotted Cichlid in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Cherry Shrimp✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    • Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep White Spotted Cichlid in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ 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, and their water overlaps around 24–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep White Spotted Cichlid in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Corydoras Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Ghost Shrimp✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep White Spotted Cichlid in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp 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)
    • 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 White Spotted Cichlid in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Malaysian Trumpet Snail✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 21–27 °C (70–81 °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 White Spotted Cichlid in a shoal of 8+ 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 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep White Spotted Cichlid in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Red Lip Nerite Snail✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 2 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.
    • Keep White Spotted Cichlid in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Spotfin Corydoras✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6.5 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep White Spotted Cichlid in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Spotfin Corydoras 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)
    • 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 White Spotted Cichlid in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Upside-down Catfish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 10 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 White Spotted Cichlid in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Bearded Corydoras⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Medium care · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (7.8–9 vs 6–7.6); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Keep White Spotted Cichlid in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras 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)
    • White Spotted Cichlid and Boesemani Rainbowfish are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add boesemani rainbowfish in a group to spread the pressure.
    • Keep White Spotted Cichlid in a shoal of 8+ 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)
    • Different pH ranges (7.8–9 vs 6–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Keep White Spotted Cichlid in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Clown Rasbora⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (7.8–9 vs 5.5–7); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • White Spotted Cichlid and Clown Rasbora are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add clown rasbora in a group to spread the pressure.
    • Keep White Spotted Cichlid in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Clown Rasbora 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)
    • Different pH ranges (7.8–9 vs 5–7); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Water hardness preferences differ (White Spotted Cichlid 10–20 vs Giant Betta 1–8 dGH).
    • White Spotted Cichlid is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Giant Betta — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
    • Keep White Spotted Cichlid in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Giant Danio⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 20–27 °C (68–81 °F)
    • pH preferences only just meet (White Spotted Cichlid 7.8–9 vs Giant Danio 6.5–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • White Spotted Cichlid and Giant Danio are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add giant danio in a group to spread the pressure.
    • Keep White Spotted Cichlid in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Giant Danio 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)
    • pH preferences only just meet (White Spotted Cichlid 7.8–9 vs Giant Kuhli Loach 6–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • Keep White Spotted Cichlid in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Keyhole Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (7.8–9 vs 6–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Expect White Spotted Cichlid to harass Keyhole Cichlid at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Keep White Spotted Cichlid in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Kuhli Loach⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • pH preferences only just meet (White Spotted Cichlid 7.8–9 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.
    • Keep White Spotted Cichlid in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Mascara Barb⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (7.8–9 vs 6–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Expect White Spotted Cichlid to harass Mascara Barb at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Keep White Spotted Cichlid in a shoal of 8+ 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)
    • pH preferences only just meet (White Spotted Cichlid 7.8–9 vs Medusa Pleco 6.4–7.4) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • Keep White Spotted Cichlid in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Murray River Rainbowfish⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 11 cm · Easy care · 15–26 °C (59–79 °F)
    • Expect White Spotted Cichlid to harass Murray River Rainbowfish at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
    • Keep White Spotted Cichlid in a shoal of 8+ 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)
    • pH preferences only just meet (White Spotted Cichlid 7.8–9 vs Pearl Gourami 6–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • White Spotted Cichlid and Pearl Gourami are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add pearl gourami in a group to spread the pressure.
    • Keep White Spotted Cichlid in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Rubber Lip Pleco⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (7.8–9 vs 6.5–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Keep White Spotted Cichlid in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Spotted Rubbernose Pleco⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    • pH preferences only just meet (White Spotted Cichlid 7.8–9 vs Spotted Rubbernose Pleco 6.5–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • Keep White Spotted Cichlid in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Striped Eel Loach⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (7.8–9 vs 6–7.2); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Keep White Spotted Cichlid in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Alligator Gar⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 250 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • White Spotted Cichlid and Alligator Gar are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
    • Size gap is too large (250 vs 12 cm): Alligator Gar will treat White Spotted Cichlid as food.
    • White Spotted Cichlid is a notorious fin-nipper — even though Alligator Gar is larger, an active shoal will harass its trailing fins. Only safe in a full group of 8+ with plenty of cover.
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~3785 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep White Spotted Cichlid in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Clown Knifefish⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: White Spotted Cichlid and Clown Knifefish will hold territory and clash.
    • Size gap is too large (90 vs 12 cm): Clown Knifefish will treat White Spotted Cichlid as food.
    • pH preferences only just meet (White Spotted Cichlid 7.8–9 vs Clown Knifefish 6–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep White Spotted Cichlid in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Fire Eel⛔ Not recommended
    Semi-aggressive · 100 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: White Spotted Cichlid and Fire Eel will hold territory and clash.
    • Fire Eel (100 cm) is big enough to swallow the 12 cm White Spotted Cichlid whole.
    • pH preferences only just meet (White Spotted Cichlid 7.8–9 vs Fire Eel 6.5–7.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep White Spotted Cichlid in a shoal of 8+ 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 12 cm): Koi will treat White Spotted Cichlid as food.
    • Koi is slow and long-finned; a busy white spotted cichlid shoal tends to nip at it. Keep white spotted cichlid in a proper group of 8+ and watch them closely.
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~3800 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep White Spotted Cichlid in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Mekong Giant Catfish⛔ Not recommended
    Semi-aggressive · 300 cm · Hard care · 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)
    • White Spotted Cichlid and Mekong Giant Catfish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
    • Different pH ranges (7.8–9 vs 6.5–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • White Spotted Cichlid is a notorious fin-nipper — even though Mekong Giant Catfish is larger, an active shoal will harass its trailing fins. Only safe in a full group of 8+ with plenty of cover.
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~100000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep White Spotted Cichlid in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Redtail Catfish⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 120 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • White Spotted Cichlid and Redtail Catfish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
    • Size gap is too large (120 vs 12 cm): Redtail Catfish will treat White Spotted Cichlid as food.
    • Different pH ranges (7.8–9 vs 6–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~5700 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep White Spotted Cichlid in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Spotted Gar⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    • White Spotted Cichlid and Spotted Gar are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
    • White Spotted Cichlid is bite-sized to a 90 cm predatory spotted gar — it will be eaten.
    • Different pH ranges (7.8–9 vs 6.5–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • White Spotted Cichlid is a notorious fin-nipper — even though Spotted Gar is larger, an active shoal will harass its trailing fins. Only safe in a full group of 8+ with plenty of cover.
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~600 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep White Spotted Cichlid in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Wels Catfish⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 300 cm · Hard care · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
    • White Spotted Cichlid and Wels Catfish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
    • White Spotted Cichlid is bite-sized to a 300 cm predatory wels catfish — it will be eaten.
    • Different pH ranges (7.8–9 vs 6.5–7.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Your 200 L tank is below the ~20000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep White Spotted Cichlid in a shoal of 8+ 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 white spotted 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

How to choose the right tank mates for a white spotted cichlid

White Spotted 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.

White Spotted Cichlid grows to about 12 cm, so avoid tank mates small enough to be seen as food — as a rule of thumb, skip anything under roughly 6 cm. Match its water, too: aim for 24–28 °C (75–82 °F), pH 7.8–9 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.

White Spotted Cichlid is a shoaling fish — stock a group of 8+ 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 white spotted cichlid live with other fish?

Yes — with the right companions. Our checker finds 12 compatible freshwater species for white spotted 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 white spotted cichlid?

Easy, peaceful, similarly-sized species top the list — for example Red Lip Nerite Snail, Cherry Shrimp, Malaysian Trumpet Snail. Use the checker above to match against your own tank size.

What fish should you avoid keeping with a white spotted 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 white spotted cichlid tank mates need?

Start from White Spotted 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.

← Back to the full White Spotted Cichlid care guide