Can Dojo Loach (Weather Loach) and Flowerhorn Cichlid Live Together?

Dojo Loach (Weather Loach) is a peaceful species (2/10), while Flowerhorn Cichlid is highly aggressive (10/10). This notable difference means Flowerhorn Cichlid may occasionally assert dominance over Dojo Loach (Weather Loach).

Large aggression gap (8 points) between Dojo Loach (Weather Loach) and Flowerhorn Cichlid increases stress risk for the more peaceful fish.

Dojo Loach (Weather Loach) and Flowerhorn 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.

Worth noting: Dojo Loach (Weather Loach) is a known jumper, so a tight-fitting lid is essential.

There is no temperature overlap between Dojo Loach (Weather Loach) (10–24°C) and Flowerhorn Cichlid (26–30°C). This fundamental mismatch makes long-term cohabitation impractical.

Both fish can tolerate a pH between 7.4 and 8. Maintaining a stable value within this band is more important than hitting an exact number.

For general hardness, the shared comfort zone is 9–15 dGH. Regular testing will ensure conditions stay within this range.

To house Dojo Loach (Weather Loach) and Flowerhorn Cichlid together, plan for an aquarium of at least 280 litres with a minimum length of 120 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: Sand (Sifters), Smooth Gravel (Sensitive Barbels). 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.