Can African Jewel Cichlid and Teugelsi Bichir Live Together?

African Jewel Cichlid is a semi-aggressive species (8/10), while Teugelsi Bichir is moderately assertive (5/10). This modest difference means African Jewel Cichlid may occasionally assert dominance over Teugelsi Bichir.

African Jewel Cichlid and Teugelsi Bichir 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.

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

To improve the chances of a peaceful coexistence in this community tank: Provide a significantly larger tank (at least 50% more volume than the minimum) to allow both African Jewel Cichlid and Teugelsi Bichir to establish separate territories. Add plenty of line-of-sight breaks using driftwood, rocks, and dense planting to reduce territorial confrontations.

The safe temperature window for both species falls between 24°C and 28°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 7.5. Maintaining a stable value within this band is more important than hitting an exact number.

For general hardness, the shared comfort zone is 4–15 dGH. Regular testing will ensure conditions stay within this range.

To house African Jewel Cichlid and Teugelsi Bichir together, plan for an aquarium of at least 540 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.

Because this pairing requires extra vigilance, include plenty of hiding spots — caves, driftwood, and dense plant clusters — so the less dominant fish can retreat when needed.

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

Note a potential conflict in setup requirements: African Jewel Cichlid is a plant destroyer, which conflicts with Teugelsi Bichir's requirement for live plants. Compromise where possible or prioritise the more critical need.

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