What fish can live with Checkerboard cichlid?

Use the "Often compatible" lists as a shortlist, not a stocking plan. Always run the pair tool and check the footprint of your actual tank first. Verify behaviour for Checkerboard cichlid against your own reading before you buy.

What tank mates should you avoid with Checkerboard cichlid?

Avoid African Cichlid, Oscar, Tiger Barb, Bala / silver shark, Boesemani Rainbowfish based on size, temperament, or predation risk on file.

What size tank do Checkerboard cichlid need for a community?

100L is the planning floor for adult swimming space and bioload headroom. Long-term, a 120L+ tank lets adults use the full footprint without crowding the next species. Footprint, meaning length and front-to-back depth, matters as much as raw volume for active or territorial species.

Checkerboard cichlid tank mates

A small delicate dwarf cichlid at 5 cm that needs soft blackwater and a quiet environment. More sensitive than most apistos to water chemistry.

Evidence: partially verified

Confidence: high

Lists below are built from this species record (safest, best with, risky, unsafe) — each link opens a pair-level check, not a guarantee.

← Full Checkerboard cichlid profile·Compatibility checker·Tank builder·More cichlid

Best tank mates (on file)

Merged from conservative safest and best with fields — de-duplicated by species.

Cardinal Tetra Pair check
The Checkerboard cichlid profile lists Cardinal Tetra as both safe and a recommended pairing. Cardinal Tetra schools in groups of 6 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish. Water parameters barely overlap between the two, so check the temperature and pH ranges on both profiles before stocking.
Chili Rasbora Pair check
The Checkerboard cichlid profile lists Chili Rasbora as both safe and a recommended pairing. Chili Rasbora schools in groups of 8 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish. Chili Rasbora grows to about 2cm, which is borderline mouth-size for an adult 5cm Checkerboard cichlid.
Corydoras Catfish Pair check
The Checkerboard cichlid profile lists Corydoras Catfish as both safe and a recommended pairing. Corydoras Catfish schools in groups of 6 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish. Water parameters barely overlap between the two, so check the temperature and pH ranges on both profiles before stocking.
Dwarf pencilfish Pair check
The Checkerboard cichlid profile lists Dwarf pencilfish as both safe and a recommended pairing. Dwarf pencilfish schools in groups of 8 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish.
Ember Tetra Pair check
The Checkerboard cichlid profile lists Ember Tetra as both safe and a recommended pairing. Ember Tetra schools in groups of 8 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish. Ember Tetra grows to about 2cm, which is borderline mouth-size for an adult 5cm Checkerboard cichlid.

Risky or situational

From risky tank mates and broad avoid with (excluding “unsafe” below). May work with species-only setups, more water, or mature systems — read the pair page.

German Blue Ram Open 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 Tetra Open pair check
Marked risky or situational on the profile. Tank length and group size change the outcome more than a temperament label does.
Dwarf Gourami Open 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.
Angelfish Open pair check
Angelfish reaches 20cm and is flagged predatory or as likely to eat small fish. Adult-size Checkerboard cichlid at 5cm is inside that gape range. Both species defend territory. The pairing needs a long footprint and rockwork or planting that breaks the sightline between two defended spots. Angelfish is rated semi-aggressive, so expect chasing, fin damage, or display behaviour directed at Checkerboard cichlid. Run the pair checker before stocking.
Jack Dempsey Open pair check
Jack Dempsey reaches 25cm and is flagged predatory or as likely to eat small fish. Adult-size Checkerboard cichlid at 5cm is inside that gape range. Both species defend territory. The pairing needs a long footprint and rockwork or planting that breaks the sightline between two defended spots. Jack Dempsey is rated aggressive, so expect chasing, fin damage, or display behaviour directed at Checkerboard cichlid. Run the pair checker before stocking.
Tinfoil barb Open pair check
Tinfoil barb reaches 35cm and is flagged predatory or as likely to eat small fish. Adult-size Checkerboard cichlid at 5cm is inside that gape range. Run the pair checker before stocking.

Fish to avoid with Checkerboard cichlid

From the unsafe list — predation, aggression, or space rules on this profile.

African Cichlid See why (pair)
African Cichlid reaches 15cm and is flagged predatory. Checkerboard cichlid at 5cm is prey-sized for it. African Cichlid is rated aggressive and Checkerboard cichlid is rated peaceful. No community-style planning carries that gap.
Oscar See why (pair)
Oscar reaches 35cm and is flagged predatory. Checkerboard cichlid at 5cm is prey-sized for it. Oscar needs at least 300L, far above the 100L minimum for Checkerboard cichlid. The tank that houses one stresses the other. Oscar is rated aggressive and Checkerboard cichlid is rated peaceful. No community-style planning carries that gap.
Tiger Barb See why (pair)
Tiger Barb conflicts with Checkerboard cichlid on temperament, predation, or footprint. The juvenile size in a shop tank is not the figure that matters here.
Bala / silver shark See why (pair)
Bala / silver shark reaches 35cm and is flagged predatory. Checkerboard cichlid at 5cm is prey-sized for it. Bala / silver shark needs at least 500L, far above the 100L minimum for Checkerboard cichlid. The tank that houses one stresses the other.
Boesemani Rainbowfish See why (pair)
Boesemani Rainbowfish conflicts with Checkerboard cichlid on temperament, predation, or footprint. The juvenile size in a shop tank is not the figure that matters here.

Tank size and groups

Published minimum for Checkerboard cichlid: 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

Conservative beginner-peaceful picks from the library — not replacements for reading, but a shorter on-ramp than this species for a first tank.

Plan before you buy

Pair checks for every mix, then multi-species stocking in the builder.

Open compatibility checker Tank builder

Filtration & heating

A 100L minimum tank for Checkerboard cichlid needs a filter rated for at least 400L/hr turnover and a heater maintaining 24–28°C.

Filter buying guide →Heater buying guide →Beginner plants guide →