What fish can live with Corydoras Catfish?

Usually safer companions on this hub include Cherry Barb, Guppy, Harlequin Rasbora, Neon Tetra, Platy. Open each pair check before you buy — the list is a shortlist, not a guarantee.

What tank mates should you avoid with Corydoras Catfish?

Avoid Green Terror, Jack Dempsey, Oscar based on size, temperament, or predation risk on this profile.

What size tank do Corydoras Catfish need for a community?

60L is workable for the smaller species. Footprint matters more than volume. They need at least 60cm of substrate to forage.

Corydoras Catfish tank mates

Cory tank mates should leave the sand and the school alone. These catfish want a group of their own species, soft-to-medium water that does not swing, and midwater friends that do not hammer the substrate. Large cichlids, aggressive sharks, and bare-gravel speed demons stress them into glass-sitting. Peaceful tetras, rasboras, and small livebearers are the easy wins — always buy six-plus cories, never two.

Common mistakeBuying a ‘trio’ of three different cory species for variety is how keepers invent permanently shy bottom fish. Each species needs six of its own kind to school; mixed singles do not settle. Soft sand and a real same-species group beat a rainbow of lonely cories on gravel.

Evidence: verified

Confidence: high

Each name below opens a pair check with Corydoras Catfish. That check is the decision, not the list itself.

← Full Corydoras Catfish profile·Compatibility checker·Tank builder·More catfish

Usually safer companions

Conservative shortlist from this profile. Open a pair page before you buy.

Cherry Barb Pair check
The Corydoras Catfish profile lists Cherry Barb as a recommended pairing. Cherry Barb schools in groups of 6 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish. Cherry Barb swims in the middle zone while Corydoras Catfish stays in the bottom, so the two will not crowd the same water column.
Guppy Pair check
The Corydoras Catfish profile lists Guppy as both safe and a recommended pairing. Guppy swims in the top zone while Corydoras Catfish stays in the bottom, so the two will not crowd the same water column.
Harlequin Rasbora Pair check
The Corydoras Catfish profile lists Harlequin Rasbora as both safe and a recommended pairing. Harlequin Rasbora schools in groups of 6 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish. Harlequin Rasbora swims in the middle zone while Corydoras Catfish stays in the bottom, so the two will not crowd the same water column.
Neon Tetra Pair check
The Corydoras Catfish 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 Corydoras Catfish stays in the bottom, so the two will not crowd the same water column.
Platy Pair check
The Corydoras Catfish profile lists Platy as both safe and a recommended pairing. Platy swims in the middle zone while Corydoras Catfish 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.

Nothing extra listed beyond the safer list.

Fish to avoid with Corydoras Catfish

Predation, aggression, or space rules on this profile. Treat these as poor default mixes.

Green Terror See why (pair)
Green Terror reaches 30cm and is flagged predatory. Corydoras Catfish at 6cm is prey-sized for it. Green Terror needs at least 300L, far above the 60L minimum for Corydoras Catfish. The tank that houses one stresses the other. Green Terror is rated aggressive and Corydoras Catfish is rated peaceful. No community-style planning carries that gap.
Jack Dempsey See why (pair)
Jack Dempsey reaches 25cm and is flagged predatory. Corydoras Catfish at 6cm is prey-sized for it. Jack Dempsey needs at least 200L, far above the 60L minimum for Corydoras Catfish. The tank that houses one stresses the other. Jack Dempsey is rated aggressive and Corydoras Catfish is rated peaceful. No community-style planning carries that gap.
Oscar See why (pair)
Oscar reaches 35cm and is flagged predatory. Corydoras Catfish at 6cm is prey-sized for it. Oscar needs at least 300L, far above the 60L minimum for Corydoras Catfish. The tank that houses one stresses the other. Oscar is rated aggressive and Corydoras Catfish is rated peaceful. No community-style planning carries that gap.

Tank size and groups

Published minimum for Corydoras Catfish: 60L. 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: 60L hub.

Plan before you buy

Start a pair check with Corydoras Catfish, or open a starter plan with the top safer companions in the builder.

Open pair checker Open this plan in builder

Tank hubs: 60L

Filtration & heating

A 60L minimum tank for Corydoras Catfish needs a filter rated for at least 240L/hr turnover and a heater maintaining 20–26°C.

Filter size guide →Heater size guide →Tank setup checklist →Beginner plants guide →

Related (care + temperament)

Other species that list Corydoras Catfish

Reverse lookup: these profiles reference Corydoras Catfish under safe or “best with” lists.

Featured compatibility checks

Curated pair pages for Corydoras Catfish. Each opens a full verdict — not just a list label.