What fish can live with Agassiz’s dwarf cichlid?

Use the "Often compatible" lists as a shortlist, not a stocking plan. Always run the pair tool and check the footprint of your actual tank first. Verify behaviour for Agassiz’s dwarf cichlid against your own reading before you buy.

What tank mates should you avoid with Agassiz’s dwarf cichlid?

Avoid Betta, African Cichlid, Jaguar cichlid based on size, temperament, or predation risk on file.

What size tank do Agassiz’s dwarf cichlid need for a community?

80L is the planning floor for adult swimming space and bioload headroom. Long-term, a 98L+ tank lets adults use the full footprint without crowding the next species. Footprint, meaning length and front-to-back depth, matters as much as raw volume for active or territorial species.

Agassiz’s dwarf cichlid tank mates

A small apistogramma at 5 cm that needs soft warm blackwater and a harem setup similar to other dwarf cichlids.

Evidence: partially verified

Confidence: high

Lists below are built from this species record (safest, best with, risky, unsafe) — each link opens a pair-level check, not a guarantee.

← Full Agassiz’s dwarf cichlid profile·Compatibility checker·Tank builder·More cichlid

Best tank mates (on file)

Merged from conservative safest and best with fields — de-duplicated by species.

Chili Rasbora Pair check
The Agassiz’s dwarf cichlid profile lists Chili Rasbora as a safe tank mate. Chili Rasbora schools in groups of 8 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish. Chili Rasbora grows to about 2cm, which is borderline mouth-size for an adult 5cm Agassiz’s dwarf cichlid.
Corydoras Catfish Pair check
The Agassiz’s dwarf cichlid profile lists Corydoras Catfish as both safe and a recommended pairing. Corydoras Catfish schools in groups of 6 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish.
Ember Tetra Pair check
The Agassiz’s dwarf cichlid profile lists Ember Tetra as both safe and a recommended pairing. Ember Tetra schools in groups of 8 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish. Ember Tetra grows to about 2cm, which is borderline mouth-size for an adult 5cm Agassiz’s dwarf cichlid.
Glowlight Tetra Pair check
The Agassiz’s dwarf cichlid profile lists Glowlight Tetra as a recommended pairing. Glowlight Tetra schools in groups of 6 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish.
Neon Tetra Pair check
The Agassiz’s dwarf cichlid profile lists Neon Tetra as a recommended pairing. Neon Tetra schools in groups of 6 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish.
Panda Corydoras Pair check
The Agassiz’s dwarf cichlid profile lists Panda Corydoras as both safe and a recommended pairing. Panda Corydoras schools in groups of 6 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish.

Risky or situational

From risky tank mates and broad avoid with (excluding “unsafe” below). May work with species-only setups, more water, or mature systems — read the pair page.

Angelfish Open pair check
Angelfish reaches 20cm and is flagged predatory or as likely to eat small fish. Adult-size Agassiz’s dwarf cichlid at 5cm is inside that gape range. Both species defend territory. The pairing needs a long footprint and rockwork or planting that breaks the sightline between two defended spots. Angelfish is rated semi-aggressive, so expect chasing, fin damage, or display behaviour directed at Agassiz’s dwarf cichlid. Run the pair checker before stocking.
German Blue Ram Open pair check
Both species defend territory. The pairing needs a long footprint and rockwork or planting that breaks the sightline between two defended spots. Run the pair checker before stocking.
Dwarf Gourami Open pair check
Both species defend territory. The pairing needs a long footprint and rockwork or planting that breaks the sightline between two defended spots. Run the pair checker before stocking.
Bala / silver shark Open pair check
Bala / silver shark reaches 35cm and is flagged predatory or as likely to eat small fish. Adult-size Agassiz’s dwarf cichlid at 5cm is inside that gape range. Run the pair checker before stocking.

Fish to avoid with Agassiz’s dwarf cichlid

From the unsafe list — predation, aggression, or space rules on this profile.

Betta See why (pair)
Betta conflicts with Agassiz’s dwarf cichlid on temperament, predation, or footprint. The juvenile size in a shop tank is not the figure that matters here.
African Cichlid See why (pair)
African Cichlid reaches 15cm and is flagged predatory. Agassiz’s dwarf cichlid at 5cm is prey-sized for it. African Cichlid needs at least 200L, far above the 80L minimum for Agassiz’s dwarf cichlid. The tank that houses one stresses the other.
Jaguar cichlid See why (pair)
Jaguar cichlid reaches 35cm and is flagged predatory. Agassiz’s dwarf cichlid at 5cm is prey-sized for it. Jaguar cichlid needs at least 500L, far above the 80L minimum for Agassiz’s dwarf cichlid. The tank that houses one stresses the other.

Tank size and groups

Published minimum for Agassiz’s dwarf cichlid: 80L — group minimum 1 .
Compatibility changes when the tank is too short for turning, too little for a real school, or too warm for one species and not the other — that is why pair checks include tank context, not only temperament.
Nearest litre hub to this minimum: 80L hub.

Easier alternatives to consider

Conservative beginner-peaceful picks from the library — not replacements for reading, but a shorter on-ramp than this species for a first tank.

Plan before you buy

Pair checks for every mix, then multi-species stocking in the builder.

Open compatibility checker Tank builder

Filtration & heating

A 80L minimum tank for Agassiz’s dwarf cichlid needs a filter rated for at least 320L/hr turnover and a heater maintaining 24–30°C.

Filter buying guide →Heater buying guide →Beginner plants guide →