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Compatibility Report

Can Jack Dempsey Cichlid Live With Kissing Gourami?

GuideMyTank compatibility analysis for Jack Dempsey Cichlid and Kissing Gourami.

Planning verdict

caution

Conditional

Only plan this pair if every listed condition can be met, and have a separation plan if stress or aggression appears.

Data confidence
high
Assessment source
Structured data model
Data completeness
100%

Blocking risks

No automatic safety blocker was found.

Conditions and cautions

  • Aggression levels create a significant conflict.
  • Tank size requirements differ moderately.
  • Two non-peaceful species require cautious stocking, sufficient space, and close behavior monitoring.
  • Territorial footprint and swimming zone overlap require extra space and cover.
  • Breeding aggression can turn an otherwise workable pairing into a caution setup.

Supporting factors

  • Temperature ranges overlap well.
  • pH requirements overlap well.
  • Social requirements align.
  • No predation risk detected.
Jack Dempsey Cichlid profileKissing Gourami profileMethodology and limitations

Why This Pair Received Its Verdict

Jack Dempsey Cichlid and Kissing Gourami receive a conditional verdict from the current structured assessment. Jack Dempsey Cichlid is recorded as aggressive with an aggression level of 7/10; Kissing Gourami is recorded as semi-aggressive with an aggression level of 4/10. The recommendation is based on the combined water, space, behavior, grouping, and predation checks below rather than on species names alone.

  • Temperature ranges overlap well.
  • pH requirements overlap well.
  • Aggression levels create a significant conflict.
  • Social requirements align.

Helpful Links

Use the Compatibility CheckerRead the Compatibility Disclaimer

Water Parameter Overlap

Jack Dempsey Cichlid has a recorded temperature range of 72–82°F and pH range of 6.5–8. Kissing Gourami is recorded at 72–82°F and pH 6.5–8. Their shared planning window is 72–82°F for temperature and 6.5–8 for pH. A shared aquarium must stay inside the overlap rather than merely touching each species’ outer tolerance.

Aquarium Space and Adult Size

Jack Dempsey Cichlid sets the larger listed base aquarium requirement at 75 gallons; the other listed minimum is 55 gallons. Jack Dempsey Cichlid is the larger adult by the recorded maximum, reaching 10 inches, compared with 10 inches. These figures are starting constraints, not a stocking-capacity calculation, because the complete group sizes and bioload still matter.

Behavior and Social Requirements

Jack Dempsey Cichlid is a moderate species associated with the mid zone and moderate flow. Kissing Gourami is boisterous, uses the top zone, and has a moderate flow preference. Jack Dempsey Cichlid does not have a recorded minimum school larger than one, while kissing gourami does not have a recorded minimum school larger than one. The aquarium must support both social structures without forcing either species into insufficient space.

Husbandry Fit

Jack Dempsey Cichlid is recorded as a carnivore with intermediate care, while Kissing Gourami is a omnivore with intermediate care. Their listed preferred tank styles are rockwork and community. Feeding access, cover, open swimming room, filtration, and observation should be planned around the more demanding requirement rather than averaged between the two species.

What Would Change the Decision?

Use these pair-specific boundaries before treating the verdict as an acceptable stocking plan.

  • Do not proceed unless one stable temperature and pH range can be maintained for both Jack Dempsey Cichlid and Kissing Gourami; acclimation does not correct an incompatible long-term range.
  • Treat size, predation, and fin-damage warnings as stop conditions. Extra plants cannot reliably make an unsafe predator-to-prey or fin-target pairing safe.
  • Use broken sight lines and multiple retreats, then separate the pair if either species shows persistent chasing, hiding, clamped fins, or loss of feeding access.
  • Recalculate space using the full adult group sizes—not one specimen of each species—and reject the plan if either species must be understocked socially to fit.
  • Prepare a cycled backup or separation option before introduction; individual behavior can be less predictable than species-level records.

Aquarium Planning Checklist

  • Keep temperature within 72–82°F.
  • Keep pH within 6.5–8.
  • Use at least the larger 75-gallon base requirement before accounting for the complete stocking plan.
  • Jack Dempsey Cichlid does not have a recorded minimum school larger than one; kissing gourami does not have a recorded minimum school larger than one.
  • Provide a separation plan and monitor feeding, stress, chasing, damaged fins, and access to preferred habitat zones.

Final Recommendation

Only plan this pair if every listed condition can be met, and have a separation plan if stress or aggression appears.

Sources and Data Provenance

These references support the underlying species records used by this assessment. They do not necessarily evaluate this exact pair together.

  • fishbase.secare · medium confidence
  • fishbase.secare · medium confidence
  • en.wikipedia.orgtaxonomy · medium confidence
  • en.wikipedia.orgtaxonomy · medium confidence
Read the full methodology and limitations
Report quality
supported
Analysis version
2026.09.1
Species data updated
Jul 2, 2026
Review status
Structured automated assessment

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