What fish can live with Pygmy Corydoras?

Use the "Often compatible" lists as a shortlist, not a stocking plan. Always run the pair tool and check the footprint of your actual tank first. Verify behaviour for Pygmy Corydoras against your own reading before you buy.

What tank mates should you avoid with Pygmy Corydoras?

Avoid Oscar, Tiger Barb, Angelfish, Jack Dempsey based on size, temperament, or predation risk on file.

What size tank do Pygmy Corydoras need for a community?

30L is the planning floor for adult swimming space and bioload headroom. Long-term, a 37L+ tank lets adults use the full footprint without crowding the next species. Footprint, meaning length and front-to-back depth, matters as much as raw volume for active or territorial species.

Pygmy Corydoras tank mates

A 3 cm mid-water schooling cory that swims in the water column, not just the bottom. Needs a large group of ten or more to behave naturally.

Evidence: partially 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 Pygmy Corydoras 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 Pygmy Corydoras profile lists Betta as both safe and a recommended pairing. Betta grows bigger than Pygmy Corydoras (7cm vs 3cm). Stock the Pygmy Corydoras group large enough to outnumber the Betta, or the smaller fish ends up bullied or off food.
Celestial Pearl Danio Pair check
The Pygmy Corydoras profile lists Celestial Pearl Danio as both safe and a recommended pairing. Celestial Pearl Danio schools in groups of 8 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish.
Chili Rasbora Pair check
The Pygmy Corydoras profile lists Chili Rasbora as both safe and a recommended pairing. Chili Rasbora schools in groups of 8 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish.
Otocinclus Pair check
The Pygmy Corydoras profile lists Otocinclus as both safe and a recommended pairing. Otocinclus schools in groups of 4 or more, so plan room for the whole group rather than one fish.

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 Pygmy Corydoras

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

Oscar See why (pair)
Oscar reaches 35cm and is flagged predatory. Pygmy Corydoras at 3cm is prey-sized for it. Oscar needs at least 300L, far above the 30L minimum for Pygmy Corydoras. The tank that houses one stresses the other. Oscar is rated aggressive and Pygmy Corydoras is rated peaceful. No community-style planning carries that gap.
Tiger Barb See why (pair)
Tiger Barb needs at least 80L, far above the 30L minimum for Pygmy Corydoras. The tank that houses one stresses the other.
Angelfish See why (pair)
Angelfish reaches 20cm and is flagged predatory. Pygmy Corydoras at 3cm is prey-sized for it. Angelfish needs at least 150L, far above the 30L minimum for Pygmy Corydoras. The tank that houses one stresses the other.
Jack Dempsey See why (pair)
Jack Dempsey reaches 25cm and is flagged predatory. Pygmy Corydoras at 3cm is prey-sized for it. Jack Dempsey needs at least 200L, far above the 30L minimum for Pygmy Corydoras. The tank that houses one stresses the other. Jack Dempsey is rated aggressive and Pygmy Corydoras is rated peaceful. No community-style planning carries that gap.

Tank size and groups

Published minimum for Pygmy Corydoras: 30L — 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: 30L 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 30L minimum tank for Pygmy Corydoras needs a filter rated for at least 120L/hr turnover and a heater maintaining 22–26°C.

Filter buying guide →Heater buying guide →Beginner plants guide →

Related (care + temperament)

Other species that list Pygmy Corydoras

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