Can African Butterfly Cichlid and Axelrod's Rainbowfish Live Together?

African Butterfly Cichlid is a generally mild-mannered species (3/10), while Axelrod's Rainbowfish is peaceful (2/10). This modest difference means African Butterfly Cichlid may occasionally assert dominance over Axelrod's Rainbowfish.

African Butterfly Cichlid and Axelrod's Rainbowfish both frequent the Middle (Open Water) region of the setup. This overlap can increase competition for space, so providing ample room and cover is important to keep both species comfortable.

Worth noting: Axelrod's Rainbowfish is a known jumper, so a tight-fitting lid is essential.

The safe temperature window for both species falls between 24°C and 27°C. Aim for the midpoint of this range (around 25.5°C) for optimal comfort.

Both fish can tolerate a pH between 7 and 7.5. Maintaining a stable value within this band is more important than hitting an exact number.

For general hardness, the shared comfort zone is 6–15 dGH. Regular testing will ensure conditions stay within this range.

To house African Butterfly Cichlid and Axelrod's Rainbowfish together, plan for an aquarium of at least 150 litres with a minimum length of 120 cm. This recommendation combines the stricter species minimums with a community-load allowance so the pairing has realistic long-term space and filtration headroom.

Providing a mix of open swimming space and sheltered areas with rocks, driftwood, or plants will keep both species comfortable and allow natural behaviour.

Specific environmental needs for this combination include: Sand (Sifters), Smooth Gravel (Sensitive Barbels), Plants - Densely covered, Driftwood (Digestion/Hiding). Meeting these requirements will help both species thrive.

Both species do well with moderate (standard) water movement, so a standard filtration setup rated for the tank volume should suffice.