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Apistogramma Macmasteri tank mates

Colourful, classic apisto. Demands soft warm acidic water and one pair per tank. Pick borellii first if your tap is hard.

Common mistakeBuying a male-only macmasteri for colour without a female or harem plan is how keepers invent a chronically stressed, dull fish. Males need the breeding dynamic and soft-water caves to settle. Do not park a lone show male in hard community water and expect the shop colour to hold.

Evidence: partially verified
Confidence: high

Each name below opens a pair check with Apistogramma Macmasteri. That check is the decision, not the list itself.

← Full Apistogramma Macmasteri profile·Compatibility checker·Tank builder·More cichlid

Usually safer companions

Conservative shortlist from this profile. Open a pair page before you buy.

None listed here. Use the pair checker with species you are considering.

Risky or situational

May work with more water, a mature system, or a species-only setup. Read the pair page before you experiment.

  • Corydoras CatfishOpen pair check

    Marked risky or situational on the profile. Tank length and group size change the outcome more than a temperament label does.

  • Dwarf GouramiOpen pair check

    Both species defend territory. The pairing needs a long footprint and rockwork or planting that breaks the sightline between two defended spots. Run the pair checker before stocking.

  • German Blue RamOpen pair check

    Both species defend territory. The pairing needs a long footprint and rockwork or planting that breaks the sightline between two defended spots. Run the pair checker before stocking.

  • Neon TetraOpen pair check

    Marked risky or situational on the profile. Tank length and group size change the outcome more than a temperament label does.

  • OtocinclusOpen pair check

    Marked risky or situational on the profile. Tank length and group size change the outcome more than a temperament label does.

  • Rummy Nose TetraOpen pair check

    Marked risky or situational on the profile. Tank length and group size change the outcome more than a temperament label does.

  • Tiger BarbOpen pair check

    Tiger Barb is rated semi-aggressive, so expect chasing, fin damage, or display behaviour directed at Apistogramma Macmasteri. Run the pair checker before stocking.

Fish to avoid with Apistogramma Macmasteri

Predation, aggression, or space rules on this profile. Treat these as poor default mixes.

  • Jack DempseySee why (pair)

    Jack Dempsey reaches 25cm and is flagged predatory. Apistogramma Macmasteri at 7cm is prey-sized for it.

  • OscarSee why (pair)

    Oscar reaches 35cm and is flagged predatory. Apistogramma Macmasteri at 7cm is prey-sized for it. Oscar needs at least 300L, far above the 100L minimum for Apistogramma Macmasteri. The tank that houses one stresses the other.

Tank size and groups

  • Published minimum for Apistogramma Macmasteri: 100L. Group minimum 1 .
  • Compatibility changes when the tank is too short for turning, too little for a real school, or too warm for one species and not the other. That is why pair checks include tank context, not only temperament.
  • Nearest litre hub to this minimum: 100L hub.

Easier alternatives to consider

Hardier first-tank names from the library. Still read the profile. Not a substitute for reading this one.

Plan before you buy

Start a pair check with Apistogramma Macmasteri, or open a starter plan with the top safer companions in the builder.

Open pair checkerOpen this plan in builder

Tank hubs: 100L

Filtration & heating

A 100L minimum tank for Apistogramma Macmasteri needs a filter rated for at least 400L/hr turnover and a heater maintaining 24–29°C.

Filter size guide →Heater size guide →Tank setup checklist →Beginner plants guide →

Similar fish (same category)

Related (care + temperament)

Featured compatibility checks

Curated pair pages for Apistogramma Macmasteri. Each opens a full verdict — not just a list label.

Apistogramma Macmasteri tank mates — quick answers

What fish can live with Apistogramma Macmasteri?
This hub has no “usually safer” (GOOD) companions for Apistogramma Macmasteri. Workable neighbours sit in caution — for example Corydoras Catfish, Dwarf Gourami, German Blue Ram, Neon Tetra, Otocinclus, Rummy Nose Tetra. Treat every name as a pair check, not a shopping list.
What tank mates should you avoid with Apistogramma Macmasteri?
Avoid Jack Dempsey, Oscar based on size, temperament, or predation risk on this profile.
What size tank do Apistogramma Macmasteri need for a community?
100L is the planning floor for adult swimming space and bioload. A 120L+ tank is the more comfortable long-term footprint. Length and depth matter as much as raw litres for active or territorial fish.