Can I keep small fish with a juvenile predator?

Plan around adult gape, not the polite shop juvenile. Many predators hunt at night or lights-out. Stock the predator last, keep cover, and do not add small “dither” fish later as decoration.

Do these fish also eat shrimp and snails?

Often yes, if the prey fits in the mouth. Treat shrimp, snails, and fry as food unless the profile and pair check say otherwise for your specific mix.

Which species appear on this guide right now?

Examples currently matching include African Cichlid, African freshwater butterflyfish, Agassiz’s dwarf cichlid, Angelfish, plus 37 more. Counts change as the library grows.

Fish that may eat smaller tank mates

Plan around adult mouth size. The polite shop juvenile is not the fish you keep.

Mouth size at purchase is not mouth size at six months. These species are flagged predatory, likely to eat small fish, or both. Plan around adult gape, not the juvenile in the shop. Anything that fits in the mouth is potential food — shrimp, snails, fancy guppies bought small, and fry of anything that breeds in the tank.

41 species are flagged predatory, likely to eat small fish, or both. Plan around adult gape, not shop length.

Keeper decision notes

Predation does not run on a polite schedule. Many of these species hunt at dawn, lights-out, or overnight. Stock the predator last in a tank that already has cover and broken sightlines, and do not add small "dither" fish later as decoration. Adult gape rarely matches what the shop tank suggested.

Every row is a real profile. The list moves when a record changes. Shortlist names, then verify litres, water, and mates on each profile before you buy.

Fish on this list

Next steps

Shortlist a few names from this guide, then verify the real mix before you buy.

Open pair checker Tank builder

Tank hubs: 100L · 160L · 200L · 300L

Other guides

May eat tank mates — quick answers

What does the “May eat tank mates” list include?: 41 species are flagged predatory, likely to eat small fish, or both. Plan around adult gape, not shop length.
Can I keep small fish with a juvenile predator?: Plan around adult gape, not the polite shop juvenile. Many predators hunt at night or lights-out. Stock the predator last, keep cover, and do not add small “dither” fish later as decoration.
Do these fish also eat shrimp and snails?: Often yes, if the prey fits in the mouth. Treat shrimp, snails, and fry as food unless the profile and pair check say otherwise for your specific mix.
Which species appear on this guide right now?: Examples currently matching include African Cichlid, African freshwater butterflyfish, Agassiz’s dwarf cichlid, Angelfish, plus 37 more. Counts change as the library grows.