Tank mates for bronze corydoras
We checked bronze corydoras against all 149 other species in our database for water temperature, pH, size, fin nipping, predation and aggression.
Good tank mates for bronze corydoras include betta fish, cherry shrimp, nerite snail, guppy, dwarf gourami and neon tetra. Avoid oscar, chinese algae eater and convict cichlid: oscar can eat bronze corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
Bronze corydoras: 21–26°C (70–79°F), pH 6–8, adult size 7 cm (2.8 in), minimum tank 20 gallons (76 L). Full bronze corydoras care guide.
Good Compatible tank mates (105)
Shared water conditions and no known conflict. Still add fish slowly and watch them.
Betta fish
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 5+ gal
Cherry shrimp
3 cm (1.2 in) · 5+ gal · groups of 10+
Bronze corydoras will pick off baby cherry shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Dwarf gourami
7.5 cm (3 in) · 15+ gal
Guppy
5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+
Neon tetra
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Nerite snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 5+ gal
Panda corydoras
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+
Zebra danio
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
African dwarf frog
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 2+
Amano shrimp
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+
Bronze corydoras will pick off baby amano shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Assassin snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 5+ gal
Bala shark
30 cm (11.8 in) · 230+ gal · groups of 5+
Black skirt tetra
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Cardinal tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Celestial pearl danio
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 8+
Cherry barb
5 cm (2 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+
Chili rasbora
2 cm (0.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+
Denison barb
13 cm (5.1 in) · 75+ gal · groups of 6+
Dwarf neon rainbowfish
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Ember tetra
2 cm (0.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 8+
Ghost shrimp
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+
Bronze corydoras will pick off baby ghost shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Glowlight tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+
Harlequin rasbora
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Hillstream loach
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 3+
Honey gourami
5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal
Julii corydoras
5.5 cm (2.2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Kuhli loach
9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Malaysian trumpet snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal
Molly
10 cm (3.9 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 3+
Mystery snail
5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal
Otocinclus
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Pearl gourami
11.5 cm (4.5 in) · 29+ gal
Peppered corydoras
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Pictus catfish
13 cm (5.1 in) · 75+ gal · groups of 3+
Platy
6 cm (2.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 3+
Pygmy corydoras
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+
Ramshorn snail
2 cm (0.8 in) · 5+ gal
Rosy barb
9 cm (3.5 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+
Rummy-nose tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 10+
Siamese algae eater
15 cm (5.9 in) · 55+ gal
Silver dollar
15 cm (5.9 in) · 75+ gal · groups of 5+
Sterbai corydoras
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Three spot gourami
12 cm (4.7 in) · 29+ gal
X-ray tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+
Yoyo loach
13 cm (5.1 in) · 75+ gal · groups of 5+
African butterfly fish
11 cm (4.3 in) · 29+ gal
Bamboo shrimp
8 cm (3.1 in) · 20+ gal
Bronze corydoras will pick off baby bamboo shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Black neon tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Black phantom tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Bleeding heart tetra
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 8+
Bloodfin tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Bumblebee catfish
7.5 cm (3 in) · 20+ gal
Clown killifish
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 6+
Clown pleco
9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal
Congo tetra
8 cm (3.1 in) · 40+ gal · groups of 6+
Crystal red shrimp
3 cm (1.2 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+
Bronze corydoras will pick off baby crystal red shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Diamond tetra
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Dwarf chain loach
6 cm (2.4 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+
Dwarf orange crayfish
4 cm (1.6 in) · 10+ gal
Emerald green corydoras
8 cm (3.1 in) · 55+ gal · groups of 6+
Emperor tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Endler's livebearer
3 cm (1.2 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+
Forktail blue-eye
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Gardneri killifish
6 cm (2.4 in) · 10+ gal
Giant danio
10 cm (3.9 in) · 55+ gal · groups of 6+
Glass catfish
7 cm (2.8 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+
Gold barb
7 cm (2.8 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+
Golden wonder killifish
9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal
Head and tail light tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Kubotai rasbora
2 cm (0.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 10+
Lambchop rasbora
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Lemon tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Marbled hatchetfish
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Odessa barb
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Panda garra
8.5 cm (3.3 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 3+
Paradise fish
8 cm (3.1 in) · 20+ gal
Peacock gudgeon
6 cm (2.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 2+
Penguin tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Red rainbowfish
12 cm (4.7 in) · 40+ gal · groups of 6+
Ropefish
35 cm (13.8 in) · 75+ gal
Rosy loach
2.5 cm (1 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Rosy tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Scarlet badis
2 cm (0.8 in) · 10+ gal
Scissortail rasbora
12 cm (4.7 in) · 55+ gal · groups of 6+
Serpae tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 10+
Sparkling gourami
3.8 cm (1.5 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 2+
Swordtail
12 cm (4.7 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 4+
Thai micro crab
1 cm (0.4 in) · 5+ gal · groups of 5+
Threadfin rainbowfish
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Turquoise rainbowfish
11 cm (4.3 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+
Upside-down catfish
9.5 cm (3.7 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 4+
Vampire shrimp
10 cm (3.9 in) · 20+ gal
Bronze corydoras will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Zebra loach
9 cm (3.5 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 5+
Black ruby barb
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Checkerboard barb
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Dwarf rasbora
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+
Flame tetra
3 cm (1.2 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Glowlight danio
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Green neon tetra
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+
Keyhole cichlid
10 cm (3.9 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 2+
Least killifish
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 6+
Pearl danio
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Silvertip tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Thick-lipped gourami
9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal
Variatus platy
6 cm (2.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 3+
Caution Possible, with care (27)
These can work in the right setup, but there is a real risk. Read the reason first.
- Angelfish · 29+ gal
- Angelfish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller bronze corydoras.
- Bristlenose pleco · 20+ gal
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bronze corydoras, which use the same area.
- Common goldfish · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 21–22°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Common pleco · 150+ gal
- Common pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bronze corydoras, which use the same area.
- Fancy goldfish · 20+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Tiger barb · 29+ gal
- Tiger barb nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like bronze corydoras.
- Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
- Blood parrot cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller bronze corydoras.
- Boesemani rainbowfish · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–26°C).
- Clown loach · 180+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Dojo loach · 75+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Electric blue acara · 40+ gal
- Electric blue acara is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller bronze corydoras.
- Electric blue acara defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bronze corydoras, which use the same area.
- Firemouth cichlid · 29+ gal
- Firemouth cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bronze corydoras, which use the same area.
- Kribensis · 29+ gal
- Kribensis defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bronze corydoras, which use the same area.
- Rainbow shark · 75+ gal
- Rainbow shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller bronze corydoras.
- Rainbow shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bronze corydoras, which use the same area.
- Red-tail shark · 75+ gal
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bronze corydoras, which use the same area.
- White cloud mountain minnow · 15+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 21–22°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Agassiz's dwarf cichlid · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Agassiz's dwarf cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bronze corydoras, which use the same area.
- Bolivian ram · 29+ gal
- Bolivian ram defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bronze corydoras, which use the same area.
- Buenos Aires tetra · 29+ gal
- Buenos Aires tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like bronze corydoras.
- Cockatoo cichlid · 20+ gal
- Cockatoo cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bronze corydoras, which use the same area.
- Kissing gourami · 75+ gal
- Kissing gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller bronze corydoras.
- Rabbit snail · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Rubber lip pleco · 29+ gal
- Rubber lip pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bronze corydoras, which use the same area.
- Severum · 55+ gal
- Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller bronze corydoras.
- Tinfoil barb · 200+ gal
- Tinfoil barb may eat bronze corydoras, especially young or small ones.
- Zebra pleco · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–26°C).
- Zebra pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bronze corydoras, which use the same area.
- Moonlight gourami · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
Avoid Bad tank mates (17)
- Oscar: Oscar can eat bronze corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Chinese algae eater: Chinese algae eater is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bronze corydoras.
- Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bronze corydoras.
- Discus: They need different temperatures: Bronze corydoras 21–26°C (70–79°F), discus 28–30°C (82–86°F).
- Electric yellow cichlid: Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Bronze corydoras don't belong in that setup.
- German blue ram: They need different temperatures: Bronze corydoras 21–26°C (70–79°F), german blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F).
- Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bronze corydoras.
- Pea puffer: Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bronze corydoras. Pea puffer is best kept in a species-only tank.
- Peacock cichlid: Peacock cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Bronze corydoras don't belong in that setup.
- Red zebra cichlid: Red zebra cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bronze corydoras. Red zebra cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Bronze corydoras don't belong in that setup.
- Senegal bichir: Senegal bichir can eat bronze corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Black ghost knifefish: Black ghost knifefish can eat bronze corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Demasoni cichlid: Demasoni cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bronze corydoras. Demasoni cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Bronze corydoras don't belong in that setup.
- Frontosa: Frontosa can eat bronze corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Frontosa is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 8–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Bronze corydoras don't belong in that setup.
- Green terror: Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bronze corydoras.
- Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bronze corydoras.
- Shell dweller cichlid: Shell dweller cichlid is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Bronze corydoras don't belong in that setup.
Frequently asked questions
What fish can live with bronze corydoras?
Good tank mates for bronze corydoras include betta fish, cherry shrimp, nerite snail, guppy, dwarf gourami and neon tetra. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat bronze corydoras.
Can bronze corydoras live with angelfish?
Sometimes, with care. Angelfish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller bronze corydoras.
Can bronze corydoras live with bettas?
Yes. They share similar water needs (24–26°C (75–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.
Can bronze corydoras live with bristlenose plecos?
Sometimes, with care. Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase bronze corydoras, which use the same area.
Can bronze corydoras live with cherry shrimp?
Yes. They share similar water needs (21–26°C (70–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.
How we decide: we compare each pair's comfortable temperature, pH and hardness ranges, adult sizes, mouth size (who can eat whom), fin nipping, aggression and territory. Read the full method. Data last reviewed 2026-10-13.