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Compatibility

Compatibility brief

Can Corydoras Catfish live with Oscar?

Corydoras Catfish

Corydoras Catfish

Corydoras spp. (page covers the common trade group)

peaceful~6cm
Oscar

Oscar

Astronotus ocellatus

aggressive~35cm
VerdictRISKY

Risky. This mix is commonly discouraged for typical setups.

Corydoras Catfish + Oscar: Aggression mismatch. Oscar is aggressive, while Corydoras Catfish is peaceful. The aggressive fish will likely bully or harm the peaceful one. Real tanks add variables Fishori cannot model; treat this as a high-risk read, not certainty.

Compatibility score

30/100

Profile confidence: low

Order of checkstank volume vs adults → predation mouth gap → temperament / fin nipping → shared water windows.

Min tank

300L

Combined minimum footprint reference for these two species: about 300L (larger active fish often want more length).

Temperature
Range in °C23–26°C shared
Corydoras CatfishOscarShared window
pH
Range6–7.5 shared
Corydoras CatfishOscarShared window
Size / predation

Oscar (35cm adult) may treat small Corydoras Catfish (~6cm) as food once grown — plan adult sizes, not shop sizes.

Temperament / behaviour

Corydoras Catfish (peaceful) and Oscar (aggressive) are far apart on aggression — bullying or injury is a common outcome in average community layouts.

Assessment details

  1. Aggression mismatch

    Top issue

    Oscar is aggressive, while Corydoras Catfish is peaceful. The aggressive fish will likely bully or harm the peaceful one.

  2. Oscar may eat Corydoras Catfish

    Oscar (35cm) is predatory and Corydoras Catfish (6cm) is small enough to be eaten. This pairing is unsafe.

  3. Compatible temperature range

    Both fish can comfortably share similar water temperatures.

“Oscar is aggressive, while Corydoras Catfish is peaceful”

Aggression mismatch

Next steps

Concrete changes, not "research more" filler.

  • •Corydoras Catfish should be kept in a group of at least 6 for best health and behaviour.
  • •Oscar reaches ~35cm: tank length and turning room matter more than the litre number. A tall, short tank of the same volume is not equivalent.

Try instead

  • →Build a species-only tank for the larger fish, or restock with fish too large to be eaten at adult sizes.
Sources from both profiles
Only URLs that exist on the species records are shown. We do not fabricate citations.
  • Seriously Fish. Corydoras paleatus

    Primary: aquarium size, water chemistry, behaviour, and compatibility (URL verified in upgrade script; recheck if site content changes).

  • FishBase. Corydoras paleatus

    Secondary: taxonomy, distribution, and maximum length in nature; cross-check with aquarium import lines and measured tank parameters.

  • Wikipedia. Corydoras paleatus

    Secondary: general species context; verify all husbandry numbers against a dedicated aquarium care sheet and your test kit, not a single table row.

  • Seriously Fish. Astronotus ocellatus

    Primary: aquarium size, water chemistry, behaviour, and compatibility (URL verified in upgrade script; recheck if site content changes).

  • FishBase. Astronotus ocellatus

    Secondary: taxonomy, distribution, and maximum length in nature; cross-check with aquarium import lines and measured tank parameters.

  • Wikipedia. Astronotus ocellatus

    Secondary: general species context; verify all husbandry numbers against a dedicated aquarium care sheet and your test kit, not a single table row.

  • Wikipedia. Astronotus ocellatus (oscar)

    Encyclopaedia overview; use specialist aquarium sources for your stock's real temperature/pH/footprint needs.

Try this next

Build the full stocking list with Corydoras Catfish + Oscar

Compare another pairOpen tank builder

Plan further

Check each species’ mates list, size the glass, then verify the full stock in the builder. Methodology explains how verdicts are produced.

Individual fish vary in personality. Fishori uses conservative hobby rules. Observe any new introduction closely, feed thoughtfully, and keep a quarantine or backup plan. This is not veterinary advice.

Profile data confidence: high. Checked against several solid care sources that mostly agree. At least one species here has common trade-name ambiguity.

Full tank-mate guides

Related pair checks

Other tank mates for Corydoras Catfish

Corydoras Catfish + Oscar — common questions

Can Corydoras Catfish live with Oscar?
For most keepers, no. The verdict is RISKY: at least one check fails hard for a typical home tank. Choose a different pairing, or read the assessment details on this page to see exactly what fails before deciding.
What tank size do you need for Corydoras Catfish and Oscar together?
Plan around 300 litres as the working minimum. That figure comes from each species' published minimum and their group needs, and it assumes adult sizes, not shop sizes.
What's the main risk?
Aggression mismatch. That is the check that fails outright for this pair. The matching entry under assessment details on this page explains the reasoning and the numbers behind it.
What should you check before buying?
Corydoras Catfish should be kept in a group of at least 6 for best health and behaviour. Oscar reaches ~35cm: tank length and turning room matter more than the litre number. A tall, short tank of the same volume is not equivalent.