Yellowjacket Cichlid Tank Mates
Yellowjacket Cichlid is aggressive, so its tank mates need choosing with care. Here are the 8 freshwater species that pair well with a yellowjacket cichlid — plus the 277 to avoid — with a live checker you can tune to your own tank.
The best tank mates for a yellowjacket cichlid
- Spotted Talking Catfish ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 15 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.
- Weather Loach ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 25 cm · 5–24 °C (41–75 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Snowball Pleco ✅ CompatibleMedium care · Peaceful · 16 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Clown Loach ✅ CompatibleMedium care · Peaceful · 30 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.
- Yellow-spotted Pleco ✅ CompatibleMedium care · Peaceful · 35 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Common Pleco ✅ CompatibleMedium care · Peaceful · 45 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Sailfin Pleco ✅ CompatibleMedium care · Peaceful · 50 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.
- Elephant-nose Knifefish ✅ CompatibleHard care · Peaceful · 35 cm · 24–29 °C (75–84 °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.
Yellowjacket Cichlid tank mates that can work with care
- Adolf's Cory ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Peaceful · 5.5 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)Yellowjacket Cichlid may bully the smaller Adolf's Cory, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Agassiz's Corydoras ⚠️ With cautionEasy care · Peaceful · 6 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)Yellowjacket Cichlid may bully the smaller Agassiz's Corydoras, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Assassin Snail ⚠️ With cautionEasy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)Yellowjacket Cichlid may bully the smaller Assassin Snail, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Axelrod's Cory ⚠️ With cautionEasy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)Yellowjacket Cichlid may bully the smaller Axelrod's Cory, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Bandit Corydoras ⚠️ With cautionEasy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)Yellowjacket Cichlid may bully the smaller Bandit Corydoras, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Banjo Catfish ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Peaceful · 15 cm · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)Banjo Catfish is small enough to tempt Yellowjacket Cichlid; only risk it in a densely planted setup with hiding spots.
- Bearded Corydoras ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Peaceful · 10 cm · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)Yellowjacket Cichlid may bully the smaller Bearded Corydoras, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Black Doras Catfish ⚠️ With cautionHard care · Peaceful · 60 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)Your 450 L tank is below the ~500 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
+ 47 more “with caution” pairings — see the interactive checker above.
Fish to avoid keeping with a yellowjacket cichlid
- Mekong Giant Catfish ⛔ AvoidHard care · Semi-aggressive · 300 cm · 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Yellowjacket Cichlid and Mekong Giant Catfish will hold territory and clash.
- Wels Catfish ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 300 cm · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Yellowjacket Cichlid and Wels Catfish will hold territory and clash.
- Alligator Gar ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 250 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Yellowjacket Cichlid and Alligator Gar will hold territory and clash.
- Redtail Catfish ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 120 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Yellowjacket Cichlid and Redtail Catfish will hold territory and clash.
- Fire Eel ⛔ AvoidMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 100 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)Yellowjacket Cichlid and Fire Eel are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Clown Knifefish ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)Yellowjacket Cichlid and Clown Knifefish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Spotted Gar ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Yellowjacket Cichlid and Spotted Gar will hold territory and clash.
- Wolf Cichlid ⛔ AvoidHard care · Aggressive · 72 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)Yellowjacket Cichlid and Wolf Cichlid are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
+ 269 more to avoid — the checker above flags every one.
Check any fish against a yellowjacket cichlid
Dial in your exact tank size and filter by result — the checker scores every species in our database against a yellowjacket cichlid, with the reasoning for each verdict.
Tank-mate checker
Will it live with a Yellowjacket Cichlid?
We compare each fish against your yellowjacket cichlid on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.
- Clown Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 30 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.
- Common Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 45 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Elephant-nose Knifefish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 35 cm · Hard care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °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.
- Sailfin Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 50 cm · Medium 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.
- Snowball Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 16 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Spotted Talking Catfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 15 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Weather Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 25 cm · Easy care · 5–24 °C (41–75 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Yellow-spotted Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 35 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Banjo Catfish⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 15 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Banjo Catfish is small enough to tempt Yellowjacket Cichlid; only risk it in a densely planted setup with hiding spots.
- Bearded Corydoras⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 10 cm · Medium care · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
- Yellowjacket Cichlid may bully the smaller Bearded Corydoras, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Black Doras Catfish⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 60 cm · Hard care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Your 450 L tank is below the ~500 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Bristlenose Pleco⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 23–30 °C (73–86 °F)
- Yellowjacket Cichlid may bully the smaller Bristlenose Pleco, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Denison Barb⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 15 cm · Medium care · 18–25 °C (64–77 °F)
- Yellowjacket Cichlid is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Denison Barb — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Yellowjacket Cichlid may hunt Denison Barb, fry or shrimplets — safest in a heavily planted tank.
- Keep Denison Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Discus⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 20 cm · Hard care · 28–31 °C (82–88 °F)
- Expect Yellowjacket Cichlid to harass Discus at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Watch for Yellowjacket Cichlid picking off any discus small enough to fit in its mouth.
- Keep Discus in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Giant Glass Catfish⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 15 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Expect Yellowjacket Cichlid to harass Giant Glass Catfish at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Koi⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 90 cm · Medium care · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)
- Watch for Koi picking off any yellowjacket cichlid small enough to fit in its mouth.
- Your 450 L tank is below the ~3800 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Marbled Hoplo⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 14 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Yellowjacket Cichlid may bully the smaller Marbled Hoplo, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Medusa Pleco⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)
- Yellowjacket Cichlid may bully the smaller Medusa Pleco, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Moonlight Gourami⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 15 cm · Easy care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
- Expect Yellowjacket Cichlid to harass Moonlight Gourami at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Watch for Yellowjacket Cichlid picking off any moonlight gourami small enough to fit in its mouth.
- Porthole Catfish⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Yellowjacket Cichlid may bully the smaller Porthole Catfish, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Rubber Lip Pleco⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Yellowjacket Cichlid may bully the smaller Rubber Lip Pleco, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Spotted Rubbernose Pleco⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Yellowjacket Cichlid may bully the smaller Spotted Rubbernose Pleco, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Upside-down Catfish⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Yellowjacket Cichlid may bully the smaller Upside-down Catfish, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Zebra Pleco⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 10 cm · Hard care · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)
- Yellowjacket Cichlid may bully the smaller Zebra Pleco, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Alligator Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 250 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Yellowjacket Cichlid and Alligator Gar will hold territory and clash.
- Size gap is too large (250 vs 35 cm): Alligator Gar will treat Yellowjacket Cichlid as food.
- Your 450 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)
- Yellowjacket Cichlid and Clown Knifefish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Clown Knifefish (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 35 cm Yellowjacket Cichlid whole.
- Your 450 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)
- Yellowjacket Cichlid and Fire Eel are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Yellowjacket Cichlid is bite-sized to a 100 cm predatory fire eel — it will be eaten.
- Mekong Giant Catfish⛔ Not recommendedSemi-aggressive · 300 cm · Hard care · 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)
- Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Yellowjacket Cichlid and Mekong Giant Catfish will hold territory and clash.
- Your 450 L tank is below the ~100000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Redtail Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 120 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Yellowjacket Cichlid and Redtail Catfish will hold territory and clash.
- Redtail Catfish (120 cm) is big enough to swallow the 35 cm Yellowjacket Cichlid whole.
- Your 450 L tank is below the ~5700 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Spotted Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Yellowjacket Cichlid and Spotted Gar will hold territory and clash.
- Yellowjacket Cichlid is bite-sized to a 90 cm predatory spotted gar — it will be eaten.
- Your 450 L tank is below the ~600 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Wels Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 300 cm · Hard care · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
- Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Yellowjacket Cichlid and Wels Catfish will hold territory and clash.
- Yellowjacket Cichlid is bite-sized to a 300 cm predatory wels catfish — it will be eaten.
- Your 450 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)
- Yellowjacket Cichlid and Wolf Cichlid are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Yellowjacket Cichlid is small enough to tempt Wolf Cichlid; only risk it in a densely planted setup with hiding spots.
- Your 450 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 yellowjacket cichlid community tank
Give the group a stable, planted 450 L+ tank with a gentle filter, a reliable heater and plenty of cover — broken sight lines and hiding spots let mid-water and bottom dwellers keep out of each other's way. Cycle it fully and stock gradually.
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How to choose the right tank mates for a yellowjacket cichlid
Yellowjacket 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.
Yellowjacket Cichlid grows to about 35 cm, so avoid tank mates small enough to be seen as food — as a rule of thumb, skip anything under roughly 18 cm. Match its water, too: aim for 24–28 °C (75–82 °F), pH 7–8 and 8–20 dGH. Fish needing very different conditions — coldwater species, or hard-water lovers against a soft-water fish — rarely thrive side by side.
Yellowjacket Cichlid doesn't need its own kind to feel secure; think twice before keeping more than one if it is territorial. Whatever you add, introduce new fish slowly, watch for bullying in the first days, and have a backup plan if temperaments clash.
Frequently asked questions
Can a yellowjacket cichlid live with other fish?
Yes — with the right companions. Our checker finds 8 compatible freshwater species for yellowjacket 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 yellowjacket cichlid?
Easy, peaceful, similarly-sized species top the list — for example Spotted Talking Catfish, Weather Loach, Snowball Pleco. Use the checker above to match against your own tank size.
What fish should you avoid keeping with a yellowjacket 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 yellowjacket cichlid tank mates need?
Start from Yellowjacket Cichlid's own minimum and scale up with every addition. The checker above defaults to a 450 L community tank and flags pairings that need more room — drag the slider to match your setup.