Can firemouth cichlids live with pygmy corys?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Firemouth cichlids and pygmy corys can share a tank, but watch one thing. At 6 inches a firemouth cichlid can swallow a small pygmy cory. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.

Firemouth cichlid75–86°F · pH 6.5–8

Pygmy cory72–79°F · pH 6–7.5

What to watch

Watch outAt 6 inches a firemouth cichlid can swallow a small pygmy cory. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.

What works

Both are fine at 75–79°F.
pH 6.5–7.5 suits both.
They use different parts of the tank: firemouth cichlids 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

	Firemouth cichlid	Pygmy cory
Temperature	75–86 °F	72–79 °F
pH	6.5–8	6–7.5
Adult size	6.0 in	1.0 in
Minimum tank	30 gal	10 gal
Temperament	Semi-aggressive	Peaceful
Swims at	Bottom	Middle
Group	Alone or in pairs	Groups of 6+
Diet	Omnivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for firemouth cichlids

All firemouth cichlid tank mates

Better tank mates for pygmy corys

All pygmy cory tank mates

Questions

Can firemouth cichlids live with pygmy corys?

Yes, with care. Firemouth cichlids and pygmy corys can share a tank, but watch one thing. At 6 inches a firemouth cichlid can swallow a small pygmy cory. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.

What temperature suits both firemouth cichlids and pygmy corys?

75–79 °F. Firemouth cichlids need 75–86 °F, pygmy corys need 72–79 °F.

What size tank do firemouth cichlids and pygmy corys need together?

At least 30 gal, set by the firemouth cichlid. Add space for each extra fish.