Tank mates for panda corydoras
We checked panda corydoras against all 149 other species in our database for water temperature, pH, size, fin nipping, predation and aggression.
Good tank mates for panda corydoras include cherry shrimp, nerite snail, guppy, neon tetra, bronze corydoras and zebra danio. Avoid oscar, bala shark and boesemani rainbowfish: oscar can eat panda corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
Panda corydoras: 21–25°C (70–77°F), pH 6–7.5, adult size 4.5 cm (1.8 in), minimum tank 15 gallons (57 L). Full panda corydoras care guide.
Good Compatible tank mates (73)
Shared water conditions and no known conflict. Still add fish slowly and watch them.
Bronze corydoras
7 cm (2.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Cherry shrimp
3 cm (1.2 in) · 5+ gal · groups of 10+
Panda corydoras will pick off baby cherry shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
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
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+
Panda corydoras will pick off baby amano shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Assassin snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 5+ gal
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+
Panda corydoras will pick off baby ghost shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
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+
Malaysian trumpet snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal
Mystery snail
5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal
Otocinclus
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Peppered corydoras
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
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+
Siamese algae eater
15 cm (5.9 in) · 55+ gal
Sterbai corydoras
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Bamboo shrimp
8 cm (3.1 in) · 20+ gal
Panda 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+
Clown killifish
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 6+
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+
Panda corydoras will pick off baby crystal red shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
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+
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+
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+
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+
Rosy loach
2.5 cm (1 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Scarlet badis
2 cm (0.8 in) · 10+ gal
Scissortail rasbora
12 cm (4.7 in) · 55+ gal · groups of 6+
Swordtail
12 cm (4.7 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 4+
Thai micro crab
1 cm (0.4 in) · 5+ gal · groups of 5+
Turquoise rainbowfish
11 cm (4.3 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+
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+
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+
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 (51)
These can work in the right setup, but there is a real risk. Read the reason first.
- Angelfish · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Angelfish may eat panda corydoras, especially young or small ones.
- Angelfish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller panda corydoras.
- Betta fish · 5+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Bristlenose pleco · 20+ gal
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase panda 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 goldfish may eat panda corydoras, especially young or small ones.
- Common pleco · 150+ gal
- Common pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase panda corydoras, which use the same area.
- Dwarf gourami · 15+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- 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 panda corydoras.
- Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Blood parrot cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller panda corydoras.
- Clown loach · 180+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–25°C).
- Clown loach grows much larger than panda corydoras and may swallow them as it grows.
- Dojo loach · 75+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Firemouth cichlid · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Firemouth cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller panda corydoras.
- Firemouth cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase panda corydoras, which use the same area.
- Glowlight tetra · 15+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Kribensis · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Kribensis is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller panda corydoras.
- Kribensis defends its patch of the bottom and may chase panda corydoras, which use the same area.
- Kuhli loach · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Molly · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Pearl gourami · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Rainbow shark · 75+ gal
- Rainbow shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller panda corydoras.
- Rainbow shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase panda corydoras, which use the same area.
- Red-tail shark · 75+ gal
- Red-tail shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller panda corydoras.
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase panda corydoras, which use the same area.
- Rummy-nose tetra · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Silver dollar · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Three spot gourami · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Three spot gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller panda corydoras.
- 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.
- X-ray tetra · 15+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Yoyo loach · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- African butterfly fish · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- African butterfly fish may eat panda corydoras, especially young or small ones.
- African butterfly fish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller panda corydoras.
- Agassiz's dwarf cichlid · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–25°C).
- Agassiz's dwarf cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase panda corydoras, which use the same area.
- Bolivian ram · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Bolivian ram defends its patch of the bottom and may chase panda corydoras, which use the same area.
- Buenos Aires tetra · 29+ gal
- Buenos Aires tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like panda corydoras.
- Bumblebee catfish · 20+ gal
- Bumblebee catfish may eat panda corydoras, especially young or small ones.
- Clown pleco · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Cockatoo cichlid · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Cockatoo cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase panda corydoras, which use the same area.
- Diamond tetra · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Dwarf chain loach · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Endler's livebearer · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Forktail blue-eye · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Golden wonder killifish · 20+ gal
- Golden wonder killifish may eat panda corydoras, especially young or small ones.
- Kissing gourami · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Kissing gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller panda corydoras.
- Kissing gourami grows much larger than panda corydoras and may swallow them as it grows.
- Marbled hatchetfish · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Rabbit snail · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–25°C).
- Red rainbowfish · 40+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Rosy tetra · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Rubber lip pleco · 29+ gal
- Rubber lip pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase panda corydoras, which use the same area.
- Serpae tetra · 20+ gal
- Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like panda corydoras.
- Sparkling gourami · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Threadfin rainbowfish · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Upside-down catfish · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Vampire shrimp · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Dwarf rasbora · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Green neon tetra · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Moonlight gourami · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–25°C).
Avoid Bad tank mates (25)
- Oscar: Oscar can eat panda corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Bala shark: Bala shark can eat panda corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Boesemani rainbowfish: They need different temperatures: Panda corydoras 21–25°C (70–77°F), boesemani rainbowfish 26–29°C (79–84°F).
- Chinese algae eater: Chinese algae eater is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful panda corydoras.
- Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful panda corydoras.
- Discus: They need different temperatures: Panda corydoras 21–25°C (70–77°F), discus 28–30°C (82–86°F).
- Electric blue acara: Electric blue acara can eat panda corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- 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. Panda corydoras don't belong in that setup.
- German blue ram: They need different temperatures: Panda corydoras 21–25°C (70–77°F), german blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F).
- Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey can eat panda corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful panda corydoras.
- Pea puffer: Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful panda 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. Panda corydoras don't belong in that setup.
- Pictus catfish: Pictus catfish can eat panda corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Red zebra cichlid: Red zebra cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful panda 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. Panda corydoras don't belong in that setup.
- Senegal bichir: Senegal bichir can eat panda corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Black ghost knifefish: Black ghost knifefish can eat panda 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 panda 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. Panda corydoras don't belong in that setup.
- Frontosa: Frontosa can eat panda 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. Panda corydoras don't belong in that setup.
- Green terror: Green terror can eat panda corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful panda corydoras.
- Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful panda corydoras.
- Ropefish: Ropefish can eat panda corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Severum: Severum can eat panda corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- 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. Panda corydoras don't belong in that setup.
- Tinfoil barb: Tinfoil barb can eat panda corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Zebra pleco: They need different temperatures: Panda corydoras 21–25°C (70–77°F), zebra pleco 26–30°C (79–86°F).
Frequently asked questions
What fish can live with panda corydoras?
Good tank mates for panda corydoras include cherry shrimp, nerite snail, guppy, neon tetra, bronze corydoras and zebra danio. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat panda corydoras.
Can panda corydoras live with angelfish?
Sometimes, with care. Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C). Angelfish may eat panda corydoras, especially young or small ones.
Can panda corydoras live with bettas?
Sometimes, with care. Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
Can panda corydoras live with bristlenose plecos?
Sometimes, with care. Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase panda corydoras, which use the same area.
Can panda corydoras live with bronze corydoras?
Yes. They share similar water needs (21–25°C (70–77°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.