Can Honey Blue Eye and Macaw Cichlid Live Together?

Honey Blue Eye is a peaceful species (2/10), while Macaw Cichlid is semi-aggressive (7/10). This notable difference means Macaw Cichlid may occasionally assert dominance over Honey Blue Eye.

Honey Blue Eye and Macaw Cichlid 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.

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

Worth noting: Honey Blue Eye is a known jumper, so a tight-fitting lid is essential.

The safe temperature window for both species falls between 23°C and 28°C. Aim for the midpoint of this range (around 25.5°C) for optimal comfort.

Both fish can tolerate a pH between 7 and 7. Maintaining a stable value within this band is more important than hitting an exact number.

Hardness requirements are incompatible: Honey Blue Eye needs 1–8 dGH while Macaw Cichlid requires 10–20 dGH.

To house Honey Blue Eye and Macaw Cichlid together, plan for an aquarium of at least 200 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: Leaf Litter/Blackwater, Plants - Densely covered, Driftwood (Digestion/Hiding), Sand (Sifters), Smooth Gravel (Sensitive Barbels). Meeting these requirements will help both species thrive.

Note a potential conflict in setup requirements: Macaw Cichlid is a plant destroyer, which conflicts with Honey Blue Eye'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.

Honey Blue Eye and Macaw Cichlid are the kind of pair that can look acceptable in a shop but become a maintenance problem at home. The main risk is not a single number in the chart; it is the way incompatible behavior, water needs, or pressure on space compounds over time once both fish are established in the same tank.