Can fancy goldfish live with pygmy corys?

Verdict

No. Fancy goldfish and pygmy corys should not share a tank. Fancy goldfish are coldwater animals (65–74°F); pygmy corys need 72–79°F. They overlap only at 72–74°F, the edge of both ranges.

Fancy goldfish65–74°F · pH 7–8

Pygmy cory72–79°F · pH 6–7.5

What to watch

Deal breakerFancy goldfish are coldwater animals (65–74°F); pygmy corys need 72–79°F. They overlap only at 72–74°F, the edge of both ranges.
Watch outAt 6 inches a fancy goldfish can swallow a small pygmy cory. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.

What works

pH 7–7.5 suits both.

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

	Fancy goldfish	Pygmy cory
Temperature	65–74 °F	72–79 °F
pH	7–8	6–7.5
Adult size	6.0 in	1.0 in
Minimum tank	30 gal	10 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Peaceful
Swims at	All levels	Middle
Group	Alone or in pairs	Groups of 6+
Diet	Omnivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for fancy goldfish

All fancy goldfish tank mates

Better tank mates for pygmy corys

All pygmy cory tank mates

Questions

Can fancy goldfish live with pygmy corys?

No. Fancy goldfish and pygmy corys should not share a tank. Fancy goldfish are coldwater animals (65–74°F); pygmy corys need 72–79°F. They overlap only at 72–74°F, the edge of both ranges.

What temperature suits both fancy goldfish and pygmy corys?

72–74 °F. Fancy goldfish need 65–74 °F, pygmy corys need 72–79 °F.

What size tank do fancy goldfish and pygmy corys need together?

At least 30 gal, set by the fancy goldfish. Add space for each extra fish.