Yes, cichlids can live with other fish. However, because most cichlids are aggressive and territorial, you need to choose their tankmates carefully to avoid conflicts. Good tankmates for cichlids must be able to hold their own against aggression.
Also, because cichlids are open-water swimmers, you should try to get tankmates that prefer staying at the bottom or sides of the tank.
Here are some great tankmates for cichlids:
- Plecos
- Clown loaches
- Pictus catfish
- Siamese algae eater
- Red-tail shark
- Flying fox fish
- Rainbowfish
- Synodontis catfish
Make sure not to overcrowd the tank and always be prepared to remove some fish if the situation becomes hostile. Lastly, if you’re a novice fishkeeper, you should keep just one cichlid species in a tank to avoid problems.
