Can Keyhole Cichlid and Thai Micro Crab Live Together?

Keyhole Cichlid is a peaceful species (2/10), while Thai Micro Crab is peaceful (0/10). This modest difference means Keyhole Cichlid may occasionally assert dominance over Thai Micro Crab.

Keyhole Cichlid and Thai Micro Crab 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: Thai Micro Crab is nocturnal and will be most active after lights-out, naturally reducing daytime encounters.

The safe temperature window for both species falls between 22°C and 28°C. Aim for the midpoint of this range (around 25.0°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 6–15 dGH. Regular testing will ensure conditions stay within this range. An aquarium test kit is recommended for monitoring.

To house Keyhole Cichlid and Thai Micro Crab together, plan for an aquarium of at least 132 litres with a minimum length of 80 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: Driftwood (Digestion/Hiding), Plants - Densely covered, Leaf Litter/Blackwater, Plants - Floating. 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.