Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid Tank Mates
Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid is semi-aggressive, so its tank mates need choosing with care. Here are the 45 freshwater species that pair well with an umbrella dwarf cichlid — plus the 103 to avoid — with a live checker you can tune to your own tank.
The best tank mates for an umbrella dwarf cichlid
- Assassin Snail ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Malaysian Trumpet Snail ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 21–27 °C (70–81 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 21–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Axelrod's Cory ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Bandit Corydoras ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Japanese Trapdoor Snail ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 10–28 °C (50–82 °F)Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 20–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Julii Corydoras ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 23–26 °C (73–79 °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.
- Masked Corydoras ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °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.
- Skunk Corydoras ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Rust Corydoras ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 5.5 cm · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Agassiz's Corydoras ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 6 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °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.
- Elegant Cory ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 6 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- False Julii Corydoras ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 6 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.
- Corydoras Catfish ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 6.5 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Spotfin Corydoras ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 6.5 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °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.
- Peppered Corydoras ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 7 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 20–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Spotted Corydoras ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 7 cm · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Gold Barb ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 7.5 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °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.
- Black Kuhli Loach ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 8 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °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.
- Brilliant Rasbora ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 9 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Burmese Loach ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 9 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Thick-lipped Gourami ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 9 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Kuhli Loach ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 10 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °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 ✅ CompatibleEasy 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.
- Giant Kuhli Loach ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 12 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °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.
Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid tank mates that can work with care
- Afra Cichlid ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)pH preferences only just meet (Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid 5.5–7 vs Afra Cichlid 7.8–8.6) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- African Butterfly Cichlid ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 8 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid and African Butterfly Cichlid can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
- African Dwarf Frog ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid may hunt African Dwarf Frog, fry or shrimplets — safest in a heavily planted tank.
- Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 9 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
- Amano Shrimp ⚠️ With cautionEasy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)Adult Amano Shrimp might survive with Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid, but expect the young to be eaten — plant heavily.
- Amapá Tetra ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid clearly outsizes Amapá Tetra and is semi-aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Amazon Puffer ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Peaceful · 8 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)Your 75 L tank is below the ~120 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Angelfish ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid and Angelfish can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
+ 184 more “with caution” pairings — see the interactive checker above.
Fish to avoid keeping with an umbrella dwarf cichlid
- Wels Catfish ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 300 cm · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid and Wels Catfish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Alligator Gar ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 250 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid and Alligator Gar are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Redtail Catfish ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 120 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid and Redtail Catfish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Fire Eel ⛔ AvoidMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 100 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)Size gap is too large (100 vs 7 cm): Fire Eel will treat Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid as food.
- Clown Knifefish ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid and Clown Knifefish will hold territory and clash.
- Koi ⛔ AvoidMedium care · Peaceful · 90 cm · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)Koi (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 7 cm Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid whole.
- Spotted Gar ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid and Spotted Gar are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Wolf Cichlid ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 72 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid and Wolf Cichlid will hold territory and clash.
+ 95 more to avoid — the checker above flags every one.
Check any fish against an umbrella dwarf cichlid
Dial in your exact tank size and filter by result — the checker scores every species in our database against an umbrella dwarf cichlid, with the reasoning for each verdict.
Will it live with a Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid?
We compare each fish against your umbrella dwarf cichlid on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.
- Adolf's Cory✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5.5 cm · Medium 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.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Agassiz's Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °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.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Agassiz's Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Bamboo Shrimp✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °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.
- Black Kuhli Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °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.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Blood Red Tiger Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Medium care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °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.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Bolivian Ram✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °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.
- Brilliant Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 9 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Brilliant Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Burmese Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 9 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °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.
- Butterfly Hillstream Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Hard care · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 20–24 °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.
- Corydoras Catfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6.5 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °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.
- Keep Corydoras Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Duplicareus Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5.5 cm · Medium care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °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.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Duplicareus Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Elegant Cory✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °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.
- Keep Elegant Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- False Julii Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 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.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep False Julii Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Gold Barb✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7.5 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °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 Gold Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Hillstream Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Hard care · 20–24 °C (68–75 °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.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Narcissus II Cory✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5.5 cm · Medium 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.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Narcissus II Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Peppered Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 20–26 °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.
- Keep Peppered Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Rio Negro Checkerboard Cichlid✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7 cm · Hard care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °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.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Rust Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5.5 cm · Easy care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–26 °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.
- Keep Rust Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Slate Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–26 °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.
- Keep Slate Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Splashing Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °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 Splashing Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Spotfin Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6.5 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °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.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Spotfin Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Spotted Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °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.
- Keep Spotted Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Sterbai Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6.5 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °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.
- Keep Sterbai Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Ash Lipped Apisto⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Hard care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Banded Dwarf Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
- Betta⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6.5 cm · Easy 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.
- Bleeding Heart Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Bleeding Heart Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Bright Diamond Tetra⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 7 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Bright Diamond Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Bright Diamond Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Buenos Aires Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Buenos Aires Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Celebes Rainbowfish⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 7 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Water hardness preferences differ (Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid 0–8 vs Celebes Rainbowfish 10–20 dGH).
- Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Celebes Rainbowfish — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Keep Celebes Rainbowfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Costa's Tetra⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Costa's Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Keep Costa's Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Croaking Gourami⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid and Croaking Gourami are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add croaking gourami in a group to spread the pressure.
- Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid and Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
- Melon Barb⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Expect Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid to harass Melon Barb at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Melon Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Peacock Gudgeon⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 7 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid and Peacock Gudgeon are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add peacock gudgeon in a group to spread the pressure.
- Rounded Filament Barb⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 7 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid and Rounded Filament Barb are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add rounded filament barb in a group to spread the pressure.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Rounded Filament Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Roundtail Paradise Fish⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Easy care · 10–26 °C (50–79 °F)
- Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid and Roundtail Paradise Fish can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
- Sumo Loach⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
- Tiger Barb⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid and Tiger Barb can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~95 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Tiger Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Alligator Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 250 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid and Alligator Gar are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid is bite-sized to a 250 cm predatory alligator gar — it will be eaten.
- Your 75 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)
- Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid and Clown Knifefish will hold territory and clash.
- Clown Knifefish (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 7 cm Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid whole.
- Your 75 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)
- Size gap is too large (100 vs 7 cm): Fire Eel will treat Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid as food.
- Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid and Fire Eel can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
- Your 75 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)
- Koi (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 7 cm Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid whole.
- One likes softer water and the other harder (0–8 vs 9–18 dGH) — a compromise, not a perfect match.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~3800 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Redtail Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 120 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid and Redtail Catfish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid is bite-sized to a 120 cm predatory redtail catfish — it will be eaten.
- Your 75 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)
- Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid and Spotted Gar are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Spotted Gar (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 7 cm Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid whole.
- Your 75 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)
- Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid and Wels Catfish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid is bite-sized to a 300 cm predatory wels catfish — it will be eaten.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~20000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Wolf Cichlid⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 72 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid and Wolf Cichlid will hold territory and clash.
- Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid is bite-sized to a 72 cm predatory wolf cichlid — it will be eaten.
- Your 75 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 an umbrella dwarf cichlid community tank
Give the group a stable, planted 75 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 an umbrella dwarf cichlid
Being semi-aggressive, umbrella dwarf 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.
Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid grows to about 7 cm, so avoid tank mates small enough to be seen as food — as a rule of thumb, skip anything under roughly 4 cm. Match its water, too: aim for 20–26 °C (68–79 °F), pH 5.5–7 and 0–8 dGH. Fish needing very different conditions — coldwater species, or hard-water lovers against a soft-water fish — rarely thrive side by side.
Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid is a shoaling fish — stock a group of 2+ 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 an umbrella dwarf cichlid live with other fish?
Yes — with the right companions. Our checker finds 45 compatible freshwater species for umbrella dwarf 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 an umbrella dwarf cichlid?
Easy, peaceful, similarly-sized species top the list — for example Assassin Snail, Malaysian Trumpet Snail, Axelrod's Cory. Use the checker above to match against your own tank size.
What fish should you avoid keeping with an umbrella dwarf 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 umbrella dwarf cichlid tank mates need?
Start from Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid's own minimum and scale up with every addition. The checker above defaults to a 75 L community tank and flags pairings that need more room — drag the slider to match your setup.