Can Auratus Cichlid and Cardinal Tetra live together?

Auratus Cichlid and Cardinal Tetra are not compatible. The comparison on this page runs the same compatibility engine as the tank builder, checking temperature and pH overlap, predation by size, temperament, and known hard-pair conflicts.

Species Comparison

Auratus Cichlid vs Cardinal Tetra

Auratus Cichlid

Melanochromis auratus

Cardinal Tetra

Paracheirodon axelrodi

Verdict:Not compatible

Side-by-side specs

Cichlids

Family

Tetras

4.5″

Adult size

2″

75gal

Min tank

20gal

75–82°F

Temperature

73–81°F

7.8–8.6

4.5–7

aggressive

Temperament

peaceful

Solitary

Schooling

mid

Water level

mid

Compatibility notes

warnAuratus Cichlid prefers pH 7.8–8.6, Cardinal Tetra prefers 4.5–7 — water chemistry mismatch.
criticalAuratus Cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful Cardinal Tetra.

Try both in the builder →Compare different species