Can Bee Shrimp (Crystal Red / Black) and Peacock Cichlid (Aulonocara) Live Together?

Bee Shrimp (Crystal Red / Black) is a peaceful species (0/10), while Peacock Cichlid (Aulonocara) is moderately assertive (6/10). This notable difference means Peacock Cichlid (Aulonocara) may occasionally assert dominance over Bee Shrimp (Crystal Red / Black).

Large aggression gap (6 points) between Bee Shrimp (Crystal Red / Black) and Peacock Cichlid (Aulonocara) increases stress risk for the more peaceful fish.

Bee Shrimp (Crystal Red / Black) and Peacock Cichlid (Aulonocara) both frequent the Bottom (Substrate) and 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.

The safe temperature window for both species falls between 24°C and 24°C. Aim for the midpoint of this range (around 24.0°C) for optimal comfort.

The pH requirements of Bee Shrimp (Crystal Red / Black) (5.5–6.8) and Peacock Cichlid (Aulonocara) (7.8–8.6) do not overlap, making it impossible to satisfy both species simultaneously.

Hardness requirements are incompatible: Bee Shrimp (Crystal Red / Black) needs 3–6 dGH while Peacock Cichlid (Aulonocara) requires 10–25 dGH. An aquarium test kit is recommended for monitoring.

To house Bee Shrimp (Crystal Red / Black) 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: Soil / Nutrient Rich, Plants - Densely covered, Driftwood (Digestion/Hiding), Leaf Litter/Blackwater, Established Algae (Otocinclus), Sand (Sifters), Smooth Gravel (Sensitive Barbels). Meeting these requirements will help both species thrive.

Note a potential conflict in setup requirements: Bee Shrimp (Crystal Red / Black) requires Soil / Nutrient Rich, while Peacock Cichlid (Aulonocara) requires Sand (Sifters). These substrate types may be difficult to provide simultaneously. Bee Shrimp (Crystal Red / Black) requires Soil / Nutrient Rich, while Peacock Cichlid (Aulonocara) requires Smooth Gravel (Sensitive Barbels). These substrate types may be difficult to provide simultaneously. 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.