Can Amazon Leaf Fish and Peacock Cichlid (Aulonocara) Live Together?

Amazon Leaf Fish is a peaceful species (2/10), while Peacock Cichlid (Aulonocara) is moderately assertive (6/10). This notable difference means Peacock Cichlid (Aulonocara) may occasionally assert dominance over Amazon Leaf Fish.

Amazon Leaf Fish and Peacock Cichlid (Aulonocara) 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: Amazon Leaf Fish is nocturnal and will be most active after lights-out, naturally reducing daytime encounters.

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.

The pH requirements of Amazon Leaf Fish (5–6.8) and Peacock Cichlid (Aulonocara) (7.8–8.6) do not overlap, making it impossible to satisfy both species simultaneously.

Hardness requirements are incompatible: Amazon Leaf Fish needs 0–8 dGH while Peacock Cichlid (Aulonocara) requires 10–25 dGH. An aquarium test kit is recommended for monitoring.

To house Amazon Leaf Fish and Peacock Cichlid (Aulonocara) together, plan for an aquarium of at least 240 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: Leaf Litter/Blackwater, Plants - Densely covered, Driftwood (Digestion/Hiding), Plants - Floating, Sand (Sifters), Smooth Gravel (Sensitive Barbels). Meeting these requirements will help both species thrive.

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