Adolfoi cory tank mates
A striking orange-and-black cory with a vivid dorsal saddle. Needs soft water to show full colour and a school of six on fine sand.
Common mistakeParking adolfoi cories in hard alkaline tap water because the community is ‘easy tropical’ is how keepers wash out the orange-and-black pattern and invite stress infections. They want soft, acidic-leaning water and a real school of six — not a hard livebearer kit with three mixed cory species.
Each name below opens a pair check with Adolfoi cory. That check is the decision, not the list itself.
Usually safer companions
Conservative shortlist from this profile. Open a pair page before you buy.
The Adolfoi cory profile lists Ember Tetra as both safe and a recommended pairing. Ember Tetra schools in groups of 8 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish. Ember Tetra swims in the middle zone while Adolfoi cory stays in the bottom, so the two will not crowd the same water column.
The Adolfoi cory profile lists Neon Tetra as both safe and a recommended pairing. Neon Tetra schools in groups of 6 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish. Neon Tetra swims in the middle zone while Adolfoi cory stays in the bottom, so the two will not crowd the same water column.
Risky or situational
May work with more water, a mature system, or a species-only setup. Read the pair page before you experiment.
Angelfish reaches 20cm and is flagged predatory or as likely to eat small fish. Adult-size Adolfoi cory at 5cm is inside that gape range. Angelfish is rated semi-aggressive, so expect chasing, fin damage, or display behaviour directed at Adolfoi cory. Run the pair checker before stocking.
Bala / silver shark reaches 35cm and is flagged predatory or as likely to eat small fish. Adult-size Adolfoi cory at 5cm is inside that gape range. Run the pair checker before stocking.
Marked risky or situational on the profile. Tank length and group size change the outcome more than a temperament label does.
Marked risky or situational on the profile. Tank length and group size change the outcome more than a temperament label does.
Dwarf pencilfish is flagged predatory. Equal-size adults usually coexist, but the moment one is stressed, sick, or smaller after a moult, it becomes prey. Run the pair checker before stocking.
Temperature ranges barely overlap between the two, so one species ends up living at the edge of its comfort window. Run the pair checker before stocking.
Tinfoil barb reaches 35cm and is flagged predatory or as likely to eat small fish. Adult-size Adolfoi cory at 5cm is inside that gape range. Run the pair checker before stocking.
Fish to avoid with Adolfoi cory
Predation, aggression, or space rules on this profile. Treat these as poor default mixes.
African Cichlid reaches 15cm and is flagged predatory. Adolfoi cory at 5cm is prey-sized for it. African Cichlid needs at least 200L, far above the 80L minimum for Adolfoi cory. The tank that houses one stresses the other. African Cichlid is rated aggressive and Adolfoi cory is rated peaceful. No community-style planning carries that gap.
Guppy conflicts with Adolfoi cory on temperament, predation, or footprint. The juvenile size in a shop tank is not the figure that matters here.
Oscar reaches 35cm and is flagged predatory. Adolfoi cory at 5cm is prey-sized for it. Oscar needs at least 300L, far above the 80L minimum for Adolfoi cory. The tank that houses one stresses the other. Oscar is rated aggressive and Adolfoi cory is rated peaceful. No community-style planning carries that gap.
Tank size and groups
- Published minimum for Adolfoi cory: 80L. Group minimum 6 (schooling).
- Compatibility changes when the tank is too short for turning, too little for a real school, or too warm for one species and not the other. That is why pair checks include tank context, not only temperament.
- Nearest litre hub to this minimum: 80L hub.
Plan before you buy
Start a pair check with Adolfoi cory, or open a starter plan with the top safer companions in the builder.
Tank hubs: 80L
Related reading
Guides that list other fish with the same trait, so you can plan around the group rather than one row.
- Schooling & group fish →
Plan the group of 6+ before choosing tank mates.
- Beginner-friendly freshwater fish →
Adolfoi cory is on this list. Hardier options for a first stock.
- Peaceful community fish →
Other peaceful species to shortlist beside Adolfoi cory.
Filtration & heating
A 80L minimum tank for Adolfoi cory needs a filter rated for at least 320L/hr turnover and a heater maintaining 22–26°C.
Similar fish (same category)
- Glass Catfish · min 80L
- Peppered Corydoras · min 80L
- Bronze corydoras · min 100L
- Corydoras Catfish · min 60L
- Julii Corydoras · min 60L
- Panda Corydoras · min 60L
- Salt and pepper cory / dwarf cory · min 60L
- Sterba's Corydoras · min 100L
Related (care + temperament)
Adolfoi cory tank mates — quick answers
- What fish can live with Adolfoi cory?
- Usually safer companions on this hub include Ember Tetra, Neon Tetra. Open each pair check before you buy — the list is a shortlist, not a guarantee.
- What tank mates should you avoid with Adolfoi cory?
- Avoid African Cichlid, Guppy, Oscar based on size, temperament, or predation risk on this profile.
- What size tank do Adolfoi cory need for a community?
- 80L is the planning floor for adult swimming space and bioload. A 98L+ tank is the more comfortable long-term footprint. Length and depth matter as much as raw litres for active or territorial fish.