Bulls typically don’t do well in China shops (at least, as the saying goes), so it’s fair to assume they’d wreak havoc at an aquarium, considering all the glass. And as for fish? They don’t usually live very long out of water. But despite the obvious limitations keeping them apart, the bull and the fish can compliment each other beautifully—in an astrological sense, that is. The compatibility between Pisces and Taurus is strong, rooted in their mutual desire for a loyal, sensual kind of love.

Though Pisces is an imaginative water sign and Taurus, a grounded Earth sign, the two signs tend to overlap when it comes to their emotions and communication preferences—and their differences often complement each other all the same. “Pisces and Taurus are sextile, which is very harmonious,” explains astrologer Babs Cheung, describing their respective locations at 60 degrees (or two signs) apart on the zodiac wheel.

“Pisces and Taurus are sextile, which is very harmonious.” —Babs Cheung, astrologer

That being said, astrological compatibility certainly isn’t the end-all, be-all when it comes to determining a couple’s potential success. “Any zodiac sign combination can be compatible,” says astrologer Annabel Gat, author of The Astrology of Love & Sex: A Modern Compatibility Guide. “It all comes down to communication skills, maturity, and desire.”

Caveats aside, though, Gat admits that certain sun-sign pairings do have their own special chemistry. And among them is most definitely Taurus and Pisces. Curious to learn more about why? Keep reading to dive into the Pisces and Taurus traits that make the signs so compatible in love, friendship, and beyond.

Key Pisces traits

As the zodiacal fish ruled by dreamy Neptune, the planet of imagination and whimsy, Pisces is creative, spiritual, and deeply perceptive. Fittingly for the fish sign, its element is water, which also makes it an emotionally attuned sign with an almost supernatural ability to empathize with others.

Pisces also has a go-with-the-flow mutable modality, allowing it to adapt easily depending on the situation or the other people in a room. And because it’s the final sign of the zodiac calendar—thought to embody lessons from all the zodiac signs preceding it—Pisces tends to be tapped into the collective energy, too, as a perceptive sign that sees the best in others.

As a recap, the main Pisces personality traits are:

• Imaginative
• Creative
• Empathetic
• Intuitive
• Adaptable
• Emotions-driven

Key Taurus traits

Perhaps best-known for its stable, steadfast energy, Taurus is unsurprisingly a fixed sign—one with strong opinions and convictions and a deep sense of loyalty. The zodiacal bull also has a deeply sensual side, however, as a sign ruled by passionate Venus and marking the heart of spring, when nature comes alive again.

Its Earth element doesn’t just give Taurus a grounded vibe, perhaps second only to fellow Earth sign Virgo in its preference for methodical rituals and routines; it also makes Taurus a lover of material pleasures—things that feel, smell, taste, or sound good. The sign can appreciate a luxury and will work hard to be able to spend on the finer things and experiences in life.

As a refresher, the main Taurus personality traits are:

• Reliable
• Methodical
• Grounded
• Sensual
• Affectionate
• Loyal

Is Taurus and Pisces a good match?

Earth and water signs are a match made in… well, Earth. Their symbiosis is not unlike the connection between actual water and Earth: Where the Earth serves as a container for water, water serves as the fountain of life for anything growing in—or existing on—the Earth (like, ahem, us earthlings).

“Water and Earth support each other really well; in nature, wherever you have Earth, you’ll find water,” says Cheung. It makes sense then, that the zodiac signs compatible with Pisces include Earth signs Virgo, Taurus, and Capricorn, while the zodiac signs compatible with Taurus include water signs Scorpio, Pisces, and Cancer.

When it come to Pisces and Taurus compatibility, specifically, their chemistry stems from their ability to fulfill each other’s physical and emotional needs. Both signs, says Cheung, have a strong inclination to nurture others, but in distinct ways: Emotionally intuitive, Pisces is able to support Taurus’s heart, whereas sensual Taurus can care for Pisces in a more physical-touch kind of way. The result? A potential love match built on a secure foundation of mutual affection.

Some famous Pisces-and-Taurus couples that capture this kind of Earth-water synergy include:

• Penélope Cruz (Taurus) and Javier Bardem (Pisces)
• Cindy Crawford (Pisces) and Rande Gerber (Taurus)
• Mark Zuckerberg (Taurus) and Priscilla Chan (Pisces)

Romantic compatibility for Pisces and Taurus

Pisces and Taurus really know how to have a mushy-gushy kind of love. “Pisces is a romantic at heart, perfectly complementing sensual Taurus,” says Gat. But their compatibility isn’t just about the big surface-level gestures (though they’ve been known to enjoy those, too). “Pisces and Taurus is a ride-or-die astrological combo,” says astrologer Lauren DeGolia. “Taurus’s deep-rooted loyalty and Pisces’s rosy outlook on relationships can make a spark of any kind between these two magnetic.”

Gat adds that Pisces’s idealistic worldview tends to help Taurus find a sense of balance while operating in the superficial realm of the world. “Pisces knows that the best things in life are free, which can feel freeing for Taurus, who can sometimes get stuck worrying about [material things like] whether they’ll be able to secure a table at the hottest new restaurant,” says Gat.

Sexual compatibility for Pisces and Taurus

Wondering how Taurus and Pisces are in bed? There may be no fire in either sign, but the sexual compatibility of Pisces and Taurus is hot. These two signs tend to form deep emotional bonds, and according to DeGolia, this intensely intimate connection translates to steamy sexual encounters, too. “It’s a love-fest in the bedroom for these two—Taurus with their deep appreciation for sensuality and Pisces with their soul-baring sensitivity,” she says.

Taurus’s encouraging, protective nature makes it easy for Pisces to open up, says Cheung, allowing them to feel comfortable exploring their sexual fantasies and kinks. And intuitive Pisces can easily tap into Taurus’s primal nature, further awakening their sensuality.

All of the above is fantastic news for established romantic relationships (or ones on the way there), but according to Cheung, the emotional energy of this pairing isn’t always well-suited for brief flings or hookups. “If your goal is to really connect with another person while having sex, then this [match] could offer an incredibly rewarding experience,” explains Cheung. “If it’s shallower than that, then maybe not so much, because sex might feel too intimate or enveloping [with this sign pairing].”

Friendship compatibility for Pisces and Taurus

Pisces and Taurus are known to become close, nurturing friends. Where the empathic, idealistic side of Pisces can soften out the determined and steadfast nature of Taurus, those same dependable qualities of Taurus can make the sign a real rock for Pisces—who can also get lost in their own mind. “Pisces often really appreciates Taurus’s communication skills, especially how reliable and clear they are, and Taurus adores watching Pisces socialize and become part of their friend group,” says Gat.

Pisces-and-Taurus friendships thrive when the pair get to share new experiences that combine Taurus’s affinity for luxury with Pisces’s appreciation of beauty. “They tend to enjoy the same things,” says Cheung, who likens this friendship pairing to chummy classmates who share knowing glances across a lecture hall. Traveling somewhere exotic, indulging in a spa day, or even doing something less luxurious, like enjoying a wine-and-cheese picnic in the park, will deepen their friendship.

Why is Taurus so attracted to Pisces?

If Pisces is a deep, glittering pool of emotions and spiritual intuition, Taurus is the gentle earthling who wants to wade right in.

Taureans may find themselves initially pulled in by Pisces’s sublime charm and dreamy disposition, but their emotional depth is what keeps them wanting more, says Cheung. Taurus may be deeply attracted to Pisces’s innate sense of empathy and their ability to find beauty in mundane moments. As natural protectors, says Cheung, Taureans may see these sensitive qualities of Pisces as worthy of safeguarding, and that initial pull they feel toward Pisces may turn into a desire to protect them from people who might take advantage of their vulnerability.

Pisces’s creativity, imagination, and propensity for trying new things may also be exciting for Taurus, who tends to be a homebody, says Cheung. In turn, Pisces can activate a part of Taurus that draws them out of their shell, opening up a whole new world of possibilities for them.

Potential problems in a Pisces and Taurus relationship

While Pisces and Taurus tend to be compatible, relationships between the two are not always seamless. The downfall of Taurus and Pisces can arise in their differing approaches to life: Because Pisces is naturally fluid and adaptable, Taurus’s occasional rigidity and firm stances on things might be challenging for the fish to navigate. On the flip side, Taurus could get easily frustrated by Pisces’s go-with-the-flow nature, viewing their adaptability as wishy-washy or void of conviction.

As with any pairing, “rough patches for this relationship may occur when the two people don’t see eye-to-eye on a topic,” says DeGolia. Ever the stubborn bull, “Taurus may dig their heels in on their position or refuse to budge when they don’t agree, while Pisces may get lost in a wave of emotion and not know exactly how they feel about a topic, which may confuse practical Taurus.” The solution there comes with allowing space for each person to “process their perspective and emotions before coming together and trying to find resolution,” says DeGolia.

Another area where a Pisces-Taurus couple might struggle could stem from Pisces’s tendency to retreat into their own head when times get tough. Taurus longs for tangible, physical expressions of commitment and reliability, and as such, they might interpret a partner’s withdrawal as an indication that they won’t do the work necessary to move past a conflict.

Additionally, financial matters could become a source of tension: Where Taurus values stability and security above all, emotionally-driven Pisces may be more inclined to spend impulsively. But if the two can avoid conflict on the topic, they can also benefit from each other’s opposite tendencies. “Pisces is generally so fluid in their approach to life that having a little bit of structure [from a Taurus] could be incredibly helpful,” says Cheung. And for Taurus, embracing some of Pisces’s indulgent spirit can allow them to enjoy more of the material things that bring them so much pleasure.

With a little patience and willingness to compromise, then, Pisces and Taurus can certainly move past disagreements and make their bond and the love they share for each other even deeper for it.