Can African Butterfly Cichlid and Red Striped Eartheater Live Together?

African Butterfly Cichlid is a generally mild-mannered species (3/10), while Red Striped Eartheater is generally mild-mannered (4/10). This modest difference means Red Striped Eartheater may occasionally assert dominance over African Butterfly Cichlid.

African Butterfly Cichlid and Red Striped Eartheater both frequent the Middle (Open Water) and Bottom (Substrate) region of the setup. This overlap can increase competition for space, so providing ample room and cover is important to keep both species comfortable.

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 6 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 3–10 dGH. Regular testing will ensure conditions stay within this range.

To house African Butterfly Cichlid and Red Striped Eartheater together, plan for an aquarium of at least 261 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), Leaf Litter/Blackwater. 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.

African Butterfly Cichlid and Red Striped Eartheater work best when the tank gives each fish enough room to use its preferred level of the aquarium and enough cover to avoid constant visual contact. The score matters, but the real-world success usually comes from matching their pace, keeping water stable, and resisting the urge to crowd the tank just because the pair looks safe on paper.