What fish can live with Corydoras Catfish?

Pairs with almost any peaceful community fish: tetras, rasboras, livebearers, dwarf gouramis, otocinclus, shrimp, snails. Skip large predatory cichlids. Sharp gravel kills more corys than any tank mate does.

What tank mates should you avoid with Corydoras Catfish?

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

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

The default bottom-dweller for community tanks. Peaceful and active in shoals. The classic stocking mistake is buying two or three when you need six.

Evidence: verified

Confidence: high

Lists below are built from this species record (safest, best with, risky, unsafe) — each link opens a pair-level check, not a guarantee.

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

Best tank mates (on file)

Merged from conservative safest and best with fields — de-duplicated by species.

Betta Pair check
The Corydoras Catfish profile lists Betta as both safe and a recommended pairing. Betta swims in the top zone while Corydoras Catfish stays in the bottom, so the two will not crowd the same water column.
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.
Molly Pair check
The Corydoras Catfish profile lists Molly as both safe and a recommended pairing. Water parameters barely overlap between the two, so check the temperature and pH ranges on both profiles before stocking. Molly 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

From risky tank mates and broad avoid with (excluding “unsafe” below). May work with species-only setups, more water, or mature systems — read the pair page.

None on file beyond the safe list.

Fish to avoid with Corydoras Catfish

From the unsafe list — predation, aggression, or space rules on this profile.

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.
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.
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.

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

Pair checks for every mix, then multi-species stocking in the builder.

Open compatibility checker Tank builder

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 buying guide →Heater buying guide →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.