Can African Butterfly Cichlid and Turquoise Rainbowfish Live Together?

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

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

The safe temperature window for both species falls between 23°C and 25°C. Aim for the midpoint of this range (around 24.0°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 10–15 dGH. Regular testing will ensure conditions stay within this range.

To house African Butterfly Cichlid and Turquoise Rainbowfish together, plan for an aquarium of at least 192 litres with a minimum length of 120 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 - lighly covered. 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.