Can African Butterfly Cichlid and Penguin Tetra Live Together?

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

African Butterfly Cichlid and Penguin Tetra 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: Penguin Tetra is a known jumper, so a tight-fitting lid is essential.

The safe temperature window for both species falls between 23°C and 27°C. Aim for the midpoint of this range (around 25.0°C) for optimal comfort.

Both fish can tolerate a pH between 5.5 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 3–15 dGH. Regular testing will ensure conditions stay within this range. An aquarium test kit is recommended for monitoring.

To house African Butterfly Cichlid and Penguin Tetra together, plan for an aquarium of at least 90 litres with a minimum length of 60 cm. This accounts for the larger species' space requirements with an additional 20 % buffer to reduce territorial tension.

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), Plants - Floating. 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.