Corydoras tank mates

Good matches

72 of 98

The safest picks for corydoras are bettas, guppies and tiger barbs. Each match shares corydoras' temperature and pH and leaves them alone.

Bottom schooler; keep six or more on soft sand.

Temperature: 72–79°F
pH: 6–7.8
Temperament: Peaceful
Minimum tank: 20 gal
With care: 12
Avoid: 14

How each group of fish does with corydoras. Click through below for the reason behind every verdict.

Good tank mates

Possible, with care

Pea puffer Pea puffers are aggressive, though corydoras are big enough to shrug most of it off.
Common pleco Plecos grow to 15 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for corydoras.
Kissing gourami A grown kissing gourami may treat small corydoras as food, especially at night.
Bala shark At 13 inches a bala shark can swallow a small corydoras. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Koi At 24 inches a koi can swallow a small corydoras. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
African dwarf frog African dwarf frogs eat slowly and nearly blind. Fast corydoras will take the food first, so target-feed them.
Tinfoil barb A grown tinfoil barb may treat small corydoras as food, especially at night.
Red tail shark Red tail sharks chase other bottom fish out of their patch.
Rainbow shark Rainbow sharks chase other bottom fish out of their patch.
Electric yellow cichlid Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.8.
Zebra pleco They only share 79°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.
Peacock cichlid Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.8.

Avoid

Goldfish Goldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); corydoras need 72–79°F. They overlap only at 72–74°F, the edge of both ranges.
Axolotl Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); corydoras need 72–79°F. No temperature suits both.
Oscar An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2.5 inches corydoras do.
Jack Dempsey An adult jack dempsey eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2.5 inches corydoras do.
Convict cichlid Convict cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful corydoras.
Bichir An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2.5 inches corydoras do.
Black ghost knife An adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2.5 inches corydoras do.
White cloud minnow White cloud minnows are coldwater animals (60–72°F); corydoras need 72–79°F. They meet only at 72°F, the edge of both ranges.
Discus No shared temperature. Discus need 82–88°F, corydoras need 72–79°F.
Silver arowana An adult silver arowana eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2.5 inches corydoras do.
Fancy goldfish Fancy goldfish are coldwater animals (65–74°F); corydoras need 72–79°F. They overlap only at 72–74°F, the edge of both ranges.
African cichlid African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful corydoras.
German blue ram No shared temperature. Corydoras need 72–79°F, rams need 80–86°F.
Flowerhorn No shared temperature. Corydoras need 72–79°F, flowerhorns need 80–89°F.

Planning a mixed tank? The tank mate checker tests every pair at once. Or read the corydoras care sheet.

Questions

What are the best tank mates for corydoras?

Bettas, Guppies, Tiger barbs, Angelfish, Cherry shrimp. They share corydoras' temperature and pH and leave them alone.

What fish should not live with corydoras?

Goldfish, Axolotls, Oscars, Jack dempseys, Convict cichlids. Goldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); corydoras need 72–79°F. They overlap only at 72–74°F, the edge of both ranges.

How is compatibility checked?

Each pair is compared on temperature and pH overlap, adult size and mouth size, fin nipping, temperament and territory. The worst result decides the verdict.