Can plecos live with pygmy corys?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Plecos and pygmy corys can share a tank, but watch one thing. Plecos grow to 15 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for pygmy corys.

Common pleco72–86°F · pH 6.5–7.5

Pygmy cory72–79°F · pH 6–7.5

What to watch

Watch outPlecos grow to 15 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for pygmy corys.

What works

Both are fine at 72–79°F.
pH 6.5–7.5 suits both.
They use different parts of the tank: plecos 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

	Common pleco	Pygmy cory
Temperature	72–86 °F	72–79 °F
pH	6.5–7.5	6–7.5
Adult size	15.0 in	1.0 in
Minimum tank	125 gal	10 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Peaceful
Swims at	Bottom	Middle
Group	Alone or in pairs	Groups of 6+
Diet	Herbivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for plecos

All common pleco tank mates

Better tank mates for pygmy corys

All pygmy cory tank mates

Questions

Can plecos live with pygmy corys?

Yes, with care. Plecos and pygmy corys can share a tank, but watch one thing. Plecos grow to 15 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for pygmy corys.

What temperature suits both plecos and pygmy corys?

72–79 °F. Plecos need 72–86 °F, pygmy corys need 72–79 °F.

What size tank do plecos and pygmy corys need together?

At least 125 gal, set by the common pleco. Add space for each extra fish.