Peppered cory Tank Mates
Short answer: the best peppered cory tank mates are Cherry shrimp, Betta fish, Dwarf gourami, Guppy, Bristlenose pleco, Harlequin rasbora. Peppered corys need 68–75 °F (20–24 °C), pH 6–7 and at least 20 gallons. Keep them in a group of 6 or more.
Peppered cory care at a glance
| Adult size | 2.8 in (7 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 20 US gallons |
| Temperature | 68–75 °F (20–24 °C) |
| pH | 6–7 |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Swims in | Bottom |
| Group size | Groups of 6+ |
| Care level | Easy |
gallon tank
✅ Compatible tank mates (38)
- Cherry shrimp
- Betta fish
- Dwarf gourami
- Guppy
- Bristlenose pleco
- Harlequin rasbora
- Molly
- Neon tetra
- Platy
- Tiger barb
- Nerite snail
- Amano shrimp
- Celestial pearl danio
- Chili rasbora
- Ember tetra
- Otocinclus
- Panda cory
- Black skirt tetra
- Bronze cory
- Cherry barb
- Honey gourami
- Kuhli loach
- Serpae tetra
- White cloud mountain minnow
- Zebra danio
- Swordtail
- Siamese algae eater
- Pygmy cory
- Sparkling gourami
- Black neon tetra
- Bloodfin tetra
- Glass catfish
- Lemon tetra
- X-ray tetra
- Buenos Aires tetra
- Gold barb
- Odessa barb
- Rosy barb
⚠️ Possible with caution (12)
- Fancy goldfish — An adult fancy goldfish (up to 20 cm) may try to eat smaller peppered cory (7 cm), especially at night.
- Mystery snail — pH preferences don't overlap (Mystery snail 7.2–8.5, Peppered cory 6–7). Captive-bred fish often adapt, but one of them will be outside its comfort zone.
- Cardinal tetra — Very narrow shared temperature range: Cardinal tetra 23–29 °C (73–84 °F) vs Peppered cory 20–24 °C (68–75 °F).
- Rummy nose tetra — Very narrow shared temperature range: Peppered cory 20–24 °C (68–75 °F) vs Rummy nose tetra 23–26 °C (73–79 °F).
- Rainbow shark — Rainbow shark is a much larger territorial fish and may bully peppered cory.
- Red tail shark — Red tail shark defends a territory near the bottom (especially when breeding) and may chase peppered cory.
- Common pleco — Very narrow shared temperature range: Common pleco 23–28 °C (73–82 °F) vs Peppered cory 20–24 °C (68–75 °F).
- Cockatoo dwarf cichlid — Cockatoo dwarf cichlid defends a territory near the bottom (especially when breeding) and may chase peppered cory.
- Dwarf neon rainbowfish — Very narrow shared temperature range: Dwarf neon rainbowfish 23–28 °C (73–82 °F) vs Peppered cory 20–24 °C (68–75 °F).
- Congo tetra — Very narrow shared temperature range: Congo tetra 23–28 °C (73–82 °F) vs Peppered cory 20–24 °C (68–75 °F).
- Firemouth cichlid — Firemouth cichlid is a much larger territorial fish and may bully peppered cory.
- Chinese algae eater — Chinese algae eater is a much larger territorial fish and may bully peppered cory.
❌ Not recommended (21)
- Angelfish — No comfortable shared temperature: Angelfish 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Peppered cory 20–24 °C (68–75 °F).
- Oscar — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat peppered cory (7 cm).
- Pea puffer — Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully peaceful peppered cory.
- Endler's livebearer — No comfortable shared temperature: Endler's livebearer 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Peppered cory 20–24 °C (68–75 °F).
- German blue ram — No comfortable shared temperature: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Peppered cory 20–24 °C (68–75 °F).
- Glowlight tetra — No comfortable shared temperature: Glowlight tetra 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Peppered cory 20–24 °C (68–75 °F).
- Kribensis — No comfortable shared temperature: Kribensis 24–27 °C (75–81 °F) vs Peppered cory 20–24 °C (68–75 °F).
- Pearl gourami — No comfortable shared temperature: Pearl gourami 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Peppered cory 20–24 °C (68–75 °F).
- Three spot gourami — No comfortable shared temperature: Peppered cory 20–24 °C (68–75 °F) vs Three spot gourami 24–30 °C (75–86 °F).
- Electric yellow cichlid — No comfortable shared temperature: Peppered cory 20–24 °C (68–75 °F) vs Electric yellow cichlid 24–28 °C (75–82 °F).
- Discus — No comfortable shared temperature: Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F) vs Peppered cory 20–24 °C (68–75 °F).
- Clown loach — No comfortable shared temperature: Clown loach 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Peppered cory 20–24 °C (68–75 °F).
- Forktail blue-eye — No comfortable shared temperature: Forktail blue-eye 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Peppered cory 20–24 °C (68–75 °F).
- Paradise fish — Paradise fish is aggressive and will bully peaceful peppered cory.
- Sterbai cory — No comfortable shared temperature: Peppered cory 20–24 °C (68–75 °F) vs Sterbai cory 24–28 °C (75–82 °F).
- Convict cichlid — No comfortable shared temperature: Convict cichlid 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Peppered cory 20–24 °C (68–75 °F).
- Upside-down catfish — No comfortable shared temperature: Peppered cory 20–24 °C (68–75 °F) vs Upside-down catfish 24–28 °C (75–82 °F).
- Boesemani rainbowfish — No comfortable shared temperature: Boesemani rainbowfish 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Peppered cory 20–24 °C (68–75 °F).
- Bolivian ram — No comfortable shared temperature: Bolivian ram 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Peppered cory 20–24 °C (68–75 °F).
- Jack Dempsey — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat peppered cory (7 cm).
- Bala shark — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat peppered cory (7 cm).
How many peppered corys per tank?
20 gal 29 gal 40 gal 55 gal 75 gal — see what else fits with our stocking calculator.
FAQ
What fish can live with peppered corys?
Good matches include Cherry shrimp, Betta fish, Dwarf gourami, Guppy, Bristlenose pleco, Harlequin rasbora. They share a temperature range with peppered corys (68–75 °F (20–24 °C)), are a similar temperament, and are not big enough to eat each other or nip fins.
What fish should not live with peppered corys?
Avoid Angelfish, Oscar, Pea puffer, Endler's livebearer, German blue ram, Glowlight tetra.
What size tank do peppered corys need?
We recommend at least 20 US gallons for a group of 6 peppered corys, more if you add tank mates.
Can peppered corys live alone?
No. Peppered corys are social and should be kept in groups of at least 6.
Note: Compatibility depends on individual temperament, tank size, decor and how fish are introduced. Our verdicts use conservative rules applied to published care data (see methodology). They are guidance, not a guarantee. Quarantine new fish and watch for chasing, torn fins or hiding.