Poor pairing in a typical community
Their water chemistry, social structure and cichlid behavior are fundamentally mismatched.
Practical response: Build either a Malawi hard-water setup or a warm soft-water Discus setup, not both.
Discus
- Adult size
- 16 cm / 6.3 in
- Tank reference
- 250+ L / 66+ US gal
- Group
- 5+
- Zone
- mid
- Temperature
- 28–31°C / 82.4–87.8°F
African Peacock Cichlid
- Adult size
- 13 cm / 5.1 in
- Tank reference
- 180+ L / 47.6+ US gal
- Group
- 4+
- Zone
- mid
- Temperature
- 24–28°C / 75.2–82.4°F
Water parameter overlap
Behavior and space
Large warm-water cichlids usually kept in groups; stable water and low-stress tankmates are essential. Malawi cichlids need hard alkaline water, deliberate sex ratios and a cichlid-specific stocking strategy.
A compatibility answer should also consider the actual tank dimensions, number of each fish, filtration, planting and other occupants. Two species can be reasonable together in a long, structured aquarium yet become a poor pairing when compressed into a small footprint.
Common questions
Can Discus live with African Peacock Cichlid?
The StockingLab verdict is avoid: Their water chemistry, social structure and cichlid behavior are fundamentally mismatched.
Do their temperatures overlap?
28–28°C / 82.4–82.4°F shared range.
Should I trust compatibility calculators completely?
No. Individual behavior, sex ratios, breeding condition, aquascape and tank size can change the outcome. Use the result to identify risks, then verify care requirements before purchase.