Keyhole cichlid tank mates
Keyholes are among the gentlest cichlids, but they are still 10cm cave-holders with opinions about floor space. Most classic mates work with conditions rather than unconditionally — the lists below say which condition applies to each name.
Common mistakeExpecting a keyhole cichlid to compete for food in a busy community is how keepers invent thin, hiding fish that never settle. They are shy feeders. Plan calm neighbours and deliberate feeding — a rowdy barb circus is the wrong home for Cleithracara maronii.
Each name below opens a pair check with Keyhole cichlid. That check is the decision, not the list itself.
Usually safer companions
Conservative shortlist from this profile. Open a pair page before you buy.
The Keyhole cichlid profile lists Dwarf Gourami as both safe and a recommended pairing. Dwarf Gourami is a peaceful beginner-care species with a 60L minimum. Run the pair checker for your specific tank before stocking.
Risky or situational
May work with more water, a mature system, or a species-only setup. Read the pair page before you experiment.
Angelfish reaches 20cm and is flagged predatory or as likely to eat small fish. Adult-size Keyhole cichlid at 10cm 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 Keyhole cichlid. Run the pair checker before stocking.
Marked risky or situational on the profile. Tank length and group size change the outcome more than a temperament label does.
Marked risky or situational on the profile. Tank length and group size change the outcome more than a temperament label does.
Electric Blue Acara reaches 18cm and is flagged predatory or as likely to eat small fish. Adult-size Keyhole cichlid at 10cm 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. Electric Blue Acara is rated semi-aggressive, so expect chasing, fin damage, or display behaviour directed at Keyhole cichlid. Run the pair checker before stocking.
Marked risky or situational on the profile. Tank length and group size change the outcome more than a temperament label does.
Tiger Barb is rated semi-aggressive, so expect chasing, fin damage, or display behaviour directed at Keyhole cichlid. Run the pair checker before stocking.
Fish to avoid with Keyhole cichlid
Predation, aggression, or space rules on this profile. Treat these as poor default mixes.
African Cichlid is rated aggressive and Keyhole cichlid is rated peaceful. No community-style planning carries that gap.
Jack Dempsey reaches 25cm and is flagged predatory. Keyhole cichlid at 10cm is prey-sized for it. Jack Dempsey is rated aggressive and Keyhole cichlid is rated peaceful. No community-style planning carries that gap.
Oscar reaches 35cm and is flagged predatory. Keyhole cichlid at 10cm is prey-sized for it. Oscar is rated aggressive and Keyhole cichlid is rated peaceful. No community-style planning carries that gap.
Tank size and groups
- Published minimum for Keyhole cichlid: 200L. Group minimum 2 .
- 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: 200L hub.
Plan before you buy
Start a pair check with Keyhole cichlid, or open a starter plan with the top safer companions in the builder.
Tank hubs: 200L
Related reading
Guides that list other fish with the same trait, so you can plan around the group rather than one row.
- Fish that eat smaller tank mates →
Keyhole cichlid may eat anything that fits in its mouth as it grows.
- Peaceful community fish →
Other peaceful species to shortlist beside Keyhole cichlid.
Filtration & heating
A 200L minimum tank for Keyhole cichlid needs a filter rated for at least 800L/hr turnover and a heater maintaining 24–30°C.
Similar fish (same category)
- Convict cichlid · min 200L
- Discus · min 200L
- Firemouth Cichlid · min 200L
- Rainbow cichlid · min 200L
- Angelfish · min 150L
- Electric Blue Acara · min 150L
- Severum · min 250L
- Bolivian Ram · min 110L
Keyhole cichlid tank mates — quick answers
- What fish can live with Keyhole cichlid?
- Usually safer companions on this hub include Dwarf Gourami. Open each pair check before you buy — the list is a shortlist, not a guarantee.
- What tank mates should you avoid with Keyhole cichlid?
- Avoid African Cichlid, Jack Dempsey, Oscar based on size, temperament, or predation risk on this profile.
- What size tank do Keyhole cichlid need for a community?
- 200L is the planning floor for adult swimming space and bioload. A 244L+ tank is the more comfortable long-term footprint. Length and depth matter as much as raw litres for active or territorial fish.