Can chinese algae eaters live with pygmy corys?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Chinese algae eaters and pygmy corys can share a tank, but watch one thing. Chinese algae eaters grow to 10 inches and need 75 gallons, far more than a tank set up for pygmy corys.

Chinese algae eater74–80°F · pH 6–8

Pygmy cory72–79°F · pH 6–7.5

What to watch

Watch outChinese algae eaters grow to 10 inches and need 75 gallons, far more than a tank set up for pygmy corys.

What works

Both are fine at 74–79°F.
pH 6–7.5 suits both.
They use different parts of the tank: chinese algae eaters the bottom, pygmy corys the mid.

Water side by side

The green band is the temperature range both can live in.

The green band is the pH both tolerate.

Size to scale

Adult length in an aquarium. A fish can swallow anything that fits in its mouth, roughly a third to half its own length for predators.

Care at a glance

	Chinese algae eater	Pygmy cory
Temperature	74–80 °F	72–79 °F
pH	6–8	6–7.5
Adult size	10.0 in	1.0 in
Minimum tank	75 gal	10 gal
Temperament	Semi-aggressive	Peaceful
Swims at	Bottom	Middle
Group	Alone or in pairs	Groups of 6+
Diet	Herbivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for chinese algae eaters

All chinese algae eater tank mates

Better tank mates for pygmy corys

All pygmy cory tank mates

Questions

Can chinese algae eaters live with pygmy corys?

Yes, with care. Chinese algae eaters and pygmy corys can share a tank, but watch one thing. Chinese algae eaters grow to 10 inches and need 75 gallons, far more than a tank set up for pygmy corys.

What temperature suits both chinese algae eaters and pygmy corys?

74–79 °F. Chinese algae eaters need 74–80 °F, pygmy corys need 72–79 °F.

What size tank do chinese algae eaters and pygmy corys need together?

At least 75 gal, set by the chinese algae eater. Add space for each extra fish.