Pygmy cory Tank Mates
Short answer: the best pygmy cory tank mates are Cherry shrimp, Betta fish, Dwarf gourami, Guppy, Bristlenose pleco, Harlequin rasbora. Pygmy corys need 72–79 °F (22–26 °C), pH 6.4–7.4 and at least 10 gallons. Keep them in a group of 8 or more.
Pygmy cory care at a glance
| Adult size | 1.2 in (3 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 10 US gallons |
| Temperature | 72–79 °F (22–26 °C) |
| pH | 6.4–7.4 |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Swims in | Middle |
| Group size | Groups of 8+ |
| Care level | Easy |
gallon tank
✅ Compatible tank mates (48)
- Cherry shrimp
- Betta fish
- Dwarf gourami
- Guppy
- Bristlenose pleco
- Harlequin rasbora
- Molly
- Neon tetra
- Platy
- Nerite snail
- Amano shrimp
- Celestial pearl danio
- Chili rasbora
- Ember tetra
- Endler's livebearer
- Mystery snail
- Otocinclus
- Panda cory
- Bronze cory
- Cardinal tetra
- Cherry barb
- Glowlight tetra
- Honey gourami
- Kuhli loach
- Rummy nose tetra
- Zebra danio
- Swordtail
- Rainbow shark
- Red tail shark
- Siamese algae eater
- Common pleco
- Clown loach
- Sparkling gourami
- Black neon tetra
- Bloodfin tetra
- Dwarf neon rainbowfish
- Forktail blue-eye
- Glass catfish
- Lemon tetra
- Peppered cory
- Sterbai cory
- X-ray tetra
- Congo tetra
- Gold barb
- Odessa barb
- Rosy barb
- Upside-down catfish
- Bolivian ram
⚠️ Possible with caution (8)
- Tiger barb — Tiger barb may nip at calmer tankmates like pygmy cory; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Black skirt tetra — Black skirt tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like pygmy cory; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Serpae tetra — Serpae tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like pygmy cory; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Kribensis — An adult kribensis (up to 10 cm) may try to eat smaller pygmy cory (3 cm), especially at night.
- Electric yellow cichlid — pH preferences don't overlap (Pygmy cory 6.4–7.4, Electric yellow cichlid 7.7–8.6). Captive-bred fish often adapt, but one of them will be outside its comfort zone.
- Cockatoo dwarf cichlid — Cockatoo dwarf cichlid is a much larger territorial fish and may bully pygmy cory.
- Buenos Aires tetra — Buenos Aires tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like pygmy cory; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Chinese algae eater — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
❌ Not recommended (15)
- Fancy goldfish — Coldwater and tropical fish don't mix: Fancy goldfish 20–23 °C (68–73 °F) vs Pygmy cory 22–26 °C (72–79 °F).
- Angelfish — An adult angelfish (up to 15 cm) is big enough to eat pygmy cory (3 cm).
- Oscar — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat pygmy cory (3 cm).
- Pea puffer — Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully peaceful pygmy cory.
- German blue ram — No comfortable shared temperature: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Pygmy cory 22–26 °C (72–79 °F).
- White cloud mountain minnow — Coldwater and tropical fish don't mix: Pygmy cory 22–26 °C (72–79 °F) vs White cloud mountain minnow 14–22 °C (57–72 °F).
- Pearl gourami — An adult pearl gourami (up to 12 cm) is big enough to eat pygmy cory (3 cm).
- Three spot gourami — An adult three spot gourami (up to 15 cm) is big enough to eat pygmy cory (3 cm).
- Discus — No comfortable shared temperature: Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F) vs Pygmy cory 22–26 °C (72–79 °F).
- Paradise fish — No comfortable shared temperature: Paradise fish 10–22 °C (50–72 °F) vs Pygmy cory 22–26 °C (72–79 °F).
- Convict cichlid — An adult convict cichlid (up to 15 cm) is big enough to eat pygmy cory (3 cm).
- Firemouth cichlid — An adult firemouth cichlid (up to 15 cm) is big enough to eat pygmy cory (3 cm).
- Boesemani rainbowfish — No comfortable shared temperature: Boesemani rainbowfish 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Pygmy cory 22–26 °C (72–79 °F).
- Jack Dempsey — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat pygmy cory (3 cm).
- Bala shark — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat pygmy cory (3 cm).
How many pygmy corys per tank?
10 gal 20 gal 29 gal 40 gal 55 gal 75 gal — see what else fits with our stocking calculator.
FAQ
What fish can live with pygmy corys?
Good matches include Cherry shrimp, Betta fish, Dwarf gourami, Guppy, Bristlenose pleco, Harlequin rasbora. They share a temperature range with pygmy corys (72–79 °F (22–26 °C)), are a similar temperament, and are not big enough to eat each other or nip fins.
What fish should not live with pygmy corys?
Avoid Fancy goldfish, Angelfish, Oscar, Pea puffer, German blue ram, White cloud mountain minnow.
What size tank do pygmy corys need?
We recommend at least 10 US gallons for a group of 8 pygmy corys, more if you add tank mates.
Can pygmy corys live alone?
No. Pygmy corys are social and should be kept in groups of at least 8.
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.