What fish can live with Keyhole 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 Keyhole cichlid against your own reading before you buy.

What tank mates should you avoid with Keyhole cichlid?

Avoid Oscar, Tiger Barb, African Cichlid based on size, temperament, or predation risk on file.

What size tank do Keyhole cichlid need for a community?

200L is the planning floor for adult swimming space and bioload headroom. Long-term, a 244L+ 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.

Keyhole cichlid tank mates

The most community-compatible cichlid in the hobby. Shy, peaceful, and genuinely safe with most tank mates except shrimp during spawning.

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 Keyhole 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.

Boesemani Rainbowfish Pair check
The Keyhole cichlid profile lists Boesemani Rainbowfish as both safe and a recommended pairing. Boesemani Rainbowfish schools in groups of 6 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish.
Corydoras Catfish Pair check
The Keyhole 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.
Dwarf Gourami Pair check
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.
Electric Blue Acara Pair check
The Keyhole cichlid profile lists Electric Blue Acara as a recommended pairing. Electric Blue Acara is a semi-aggressive intermediate-care species with a 150L minimum. Run the pair checker for your specific tank before stocking.
Neon Tetra Pair check
The Keyhole cichlid profile lists Neon Tetra as both safe and a recommended pairing. Neon Tetra schools in groups of 6 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish. Neon Tetra grows to about 4cm, which is borderline mouth-size for an adult 10cm Keyhole 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.
Angelfish Open pair check
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.
Guppy Open pair check
Marked risky or situational on the profile. Tank length and group size change the outcome more than a temperament label does.
Jack Dempsey Open pair check
Jack Dempsey reaches 25cm 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. Jack Dempsey is rated 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

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

Oscar See why (pair)
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.
Tiger Barb See why (pair)
Tiger Barb conflicts with Keyhole cichlid on temperament, predation, or footprint. The juvenile size in a shop tank is not the figure that matters here.
African Cichlid See why (pair)
African Cichlid 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

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

Open compatibility checker Tank builder

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.

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