Can swordtails live with pygmy corys?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Swordtails and pygmy corys can share a tank, but watch one thing. At 5 inches a swordtail can swallow a small pygmy cory. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.

Swordtail72–79°F · pH 7–8.3

Pygmy cory72–79°F · pH 6–7.5

What to watch

Watch outAt 5 inches a swordtail can swallow a small pygmy cory. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.

What works

Both are fine at 72–79°F.
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

	Swordtail	Pygmy cory
Temperature	72–79 °F	72–79 °F
pH	7–8.3	6–7.5
Adult size	5.0 in	1.0 in
Minimum tank	30 gal	10 gal
Temperament	Semi-aggressive	Peaceful
Swims at	Middle	Middle
Group	Groups of 3+	Groups of 6+
Diet	Omnivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for swordtails

All swordtail tank mates

Better tank mates for pygmy corys

All pygmy cory tank mates

Questions

Can swordtails live with pygmy corys?

Yes, with care. Swordtails and pygmy corys can share a tank, but watch one thing. At 5 inches a swordtail can swallow a small pygmy cory. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.

What temperature suits both swordtails and pygmy corys?

72–79 °F. Swordtails need 72–79 °F, pygmy corys need 72–79 °F.

What size tank do swordtails and pygmy corys need together?

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