Can African Dwarf Frog and Red Terror (Festa's Cichlid) Live Together?

African Dwarf Frog is a peaceful species (1/10), while Red Terror (Festa's Cichlid) is highly aggressive (10/10). This notable difference means Red Terror (Festa's Cichlid) may occasionally assert dominance over African Dwarf Frog.

Large aggression gap (9 points) between African Dwarf Frog and Red Terror (Festa's Cichlid) increases stress risk for the more peaceful fish.

African Dwarf Frog and Red Terror (Festa's Cichlid) both frequent the 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.

There is a critical concern: the Nano / Bite-sized (Predation Risk) behaviour of one fish directly conflicts with the Piscivore (Eats small/nano fish) trait of the other — piscivorous fish will prey on nano-sized tank mates..

Additional behavioural considerations to keep in mind: Aggressive fish may bully and stress shy, slow-moving species.

Worth noting: African Dwarf Frog is nocturnal and will be most active after lights-out, naturally reducing daytime encounters. Also, African Dwarf Frog is a known jumper, so a tight-fitting lid is essential.

The safe temperature window for both species falls between 25°C and 27°C. Aim for the midpoint of this range (around 26.0°C) for optimal comfort.

Both fish can tolerate a pH between 6.5 and 7.8. Maintaining a stable value within this band is more important than hitting an exact number.

For general hardness, the shared comfort zone is 5–15 dGH. Regular testing will ensure conditions stay within this range.

To house African Dwarf Frog and Red Terror (Festa's Cichlid) together, plan for an aquarium of at least 450 litres with a minimum length of 150 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: Smooth Gravel (Sensitive Barbels), Sand (Sifters), Plants - Densely covered, Driftwood (Digestion/Hiding). Meeting these requirements will help both species thrive.

Note a potential conflict in setup requirements: Red Terror (Festa's Cichlid) is a plant destroyer, which conflicts with African Dwarf Frog's requirement for live plants. Compromise where possible or prioritise the more critical need.

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