Panda cory tank mates

Good matches

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The safest picks for panda corys are zebra danios, paradise fish and guppies. Each match shares panda corys' temperature and pH and leaves them alone.

Prefers the cooler end of tropical. Keep a group.

Temperature: 68–77°F
pH: 6–7.5
Temperament: Peaceful
Minimum tank: 20 gal
With care: 21
Avoid: 13

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

Good tank mates

Possible, with care

Betta They only share 76–77°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.
Goldfish At 10 inches a goldfish can swallow a small panda cory. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Pea puffer Pea puffers are aggressive, though panda corys are big enough to shrug most of it off.
Koi At 24 inches a koi can swallow a small panda cory. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Angelfish They only share 76–77°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.
Kissing gourami At 10 inches a kissing gourami can swallow a small panda cory. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Bala shark At 13 inches a bala shark can swallow a small panda cory. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Tinfoil barb At 12 inches a tinfoil barb can swallow a small panda cory. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Red tail shark Red tail sharks chase other bottom fish out of their patch.
Cardinal tetra They only share 76–77°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.
Rainbow shark Rainbow sharks chase other bottom fish out of their patch.
Pearl gourami They only share 77°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.
Severum A grown severum may treat small panda corys as food, especially at night.
African dwarf frog African dwarf frogs eat slowly and nearly blind. Fast panda corys will take the food first, so target-feed them.
Elephant nose fish A grown elephant nose fish may treat small panda corys as food, especially at night.
Blood parrot They only share 76–77°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.
Molly Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.5.
Common pleco Plecos grow to 15 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for panda corys.
Clown loach They only share 77°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.
Electric yellow cichlid Different water: panda corys want pH 6–7.5, yellow labs want pH 7.8–8.6.
Peacock cichlid They only share 76–77°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.

Avoid

Axolotl Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); panda corys need 68–77°F. No temperature suits both.
Oscar An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches panda corys do.
Jack Dempsey An adult jack dempsey eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches panda corys do.
Pictus catfish An adult pictus catfish eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches panda corys do.
Discus No shared temperature. Discus need 82–88°F, panda corys need 68–77°F.
Bichir An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches panda corys do.
Black ghost knife An adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches panda corys do.
Convict cichlid Convict cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful panda corys.
Silver arowana An adult silver arowana eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches panda corys do.
German blue ram No shared temperature. Rams need 80–86°F, panda corys need 68–77°F.
African cichlid African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful panda corys.
Zebra pleco No shared temperature. Panda corys need 68–77°F, zebra plecos need 79–88°F.
Flowerhorn No shared temperature. Flowerhorns need 80–89°F, panda corys need 68–77°F.

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

Questions

What are the best tank mates for panda corys?

Zebra danios, Paradise fish, Guppies, Rosy barbs, Honey gouramis. They share panda corys' temperature and pH and leave them alone.

What fish should not live with panda corys?

Axolotls, Oscars, Jack dempseys, Pictus catfish, Discus. Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); panda corys need 68–77°F. No temperature suits both.

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.