Cichlid tank size
From a 15 gallon for a pair of rams to a 125 gallon for one oscar.
Cichlids range from 1.5 inch dwarfs to foot-long predators, so there is no single answer. The table gives the Seriously Fish minimum base for 11 popular species and the smallest standard tank that meets it. Footprint matters more than gallons: most cichlids hold a territory on the bottom, so length and width count and height barely does.
Minimum tank for 11 popular cichlids
| Cichlid | Adult size | Minimum base | Smallest standard tank | Temperature | pH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| German blue ram | 1.6 in | 24 x 12 in | 15 Gallon | 81 to 86°F | 4.0 to 7.0 |
| Cockatoo dwarf cichlid | 3 in | 24 x 12 in | 15 Gallon | 72 to 84°F | – |
| Bolivian ram | 3.1 in | 35 x 18 in | 30 Gallon Breeder | 75 to 82°F | 6.0 to 7.5 |
| Kribensis | 3.9 in | 24 x 15 in | 30 Gallon Breeder | 75 to 81°F | 5.0 to 7.5 |
| Angelfish | 5.9 in | 39 x 16 in | 60 Gallon Breeder | 75 to 86°F | 6.0 to 7.4 |
| Convict cichlid | 5.9 in | 35 x 12 in | 30 Gallon Breeder | 75 to 82°F | 6.0 to 8.0 |
| Firemouth cichlid | 4.7 in | 47 x 12 in | 33 Gallon Long | 68 to 90°F | 6.5 to 8.5 |
| Electric yellow lab | 3.9 in | 35 x 18 in | 30 Gallon Breeder | 75 to 82°F | 7.7 to 8.6 |
| Red zebra cichlid | 5.3 in | 47 x 15 in | 60 Gallon Breeder | 75 to 82°F | 7.6 to 8.8 |
| Discus | 5.5 in | 47 x 18 in | 60 Gallon Breeder | 85 to 86°F | 6.8 to 7.6 |
| Oscar | 13.8 in | 59 x 24 in | 180 Gallon | 68 to 82°F | 6.0 to 7.5 |
A pair is the usual unit for dwarf cichlids and Central Americans. Angelfish and discus are kept in groups, and mbuna in crowded colonies of one male to several females.
Four kinds of cichlid tank
- Dwarf cichlids (rams, apistogrammas, kribensis): a pair in a 15 to 40 gallon planted tank with small tetras as dither fish. Soft, warm water; German blue rams want 81°F or more.
- Angelfish and discus: tall fish that need a 75 gallon or larger and groups of 5 or 6. Discus want water near 86°F, which rules out most tank mates.
- Central Americans (convicts, firemouths, oscars): tough fish for a species tank. Convicts breed in anything and attack far larger fish; an oscar needs a 180 gallon on its own by the Seriously Fish footprint, and a 125 at the very least.
- African rift lake mbuna (yellow labs, red zebras): hard, alkaline water, lots of rock, and a crowded 55 or 75 gallon so no one fish can hold a territory.
Common questions
What size tank do cichlids need?
It depends on the species. Dwarf cichlids such as rams and kribensis need a 15 to 40 gallon tank, angelfish and medium Central Americans a 55 to 75, African mbuna a 30 or 40 breeder to a 75 depending on the species, and an oscar a 180 gallon by the Seriously Fish footprint.
What is the smallest cichlid tank?
A 15 gallon (24 x 12 inches) meets the Seriously Fish base for a pair of German blue rams or cockatoo dwarf cichlids. A 10 gallon is under it.
How big a tank does an oscar need?
Seriously Fish gives a base of 150 x 60 cm, about 59 x 24 inches. The 180 gallon (72 x 24 inches) is the first standard tank that meets it. A 125 or 150 gallon is long enough but 6 inches too narrow, and passes our check only with a note.
Can African cichlids live with South American cichlids?
They want different water. Mbuna such as yellow labs and red zebras need hard water at pH 7.6 and up, while rams, apistogrammas and discus want soft, acidic water. Keep the two groups in separate tanks.
Gear for a cichlid tank
Searches on Amazon for the right size. Check the tank size or flow rating on the listing before you buy.
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Sources: Seriously Fish species profiles for each fish in the table, linked from the stocking calculator. Discus also from Aquarium Co-Op.