Tank mates for peppered corydoras
We checked peppered corydoras against all 149 other species in our database for water temperature, pH, size, fin nipping, predation and aggression.
Good tank mates for peppered corydoras include cherry shrimp, nerite snail, guppy, neon tetra, panda corydoras and bronze corydoras. Avoid oscar, boesemani rainbowfish and chinese algae eater: oscar can eat peppered corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
Peppered corydoras: 20–25°C (68–77°F), pH 6–7.5, adult size 6.5 cm (2.6 in), minimum tank 20 gallons (76 L). Full peppered corydoras care guide.
Good Compatible tank mates (77)
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+
Peppered corydoras will pick off baby cherry shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Fancy goldfish
15 cm (5.9 in) · 20+ 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+
Peppered 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+
Dojo loach
15 cm (5.9 in) · 75+ gal · groups of 3+
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+
Peppered 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+
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
Peppered 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+
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+
Peppered 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+
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+
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 (53)
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 is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller peppered 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 peppered corydoras, which use the same area.
- Common goldfish · 75+ gal
- 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 peppered corydoras, which use the same area.
- Dwarf gourami · 15+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Tiger barb · 29+ gal
- Tiger barb nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like peppered corydoras.
- Bala shark · 230+ gal
- Bala shark may eat peppered corydoras, especially young or small ones.
- 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 peppered corydoras.
- Clown loach · 180+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–25°C).
- Electric blue acara · 40+ gal
- Electric blue acara may eat peppered corydoras, especially young or small ones.
- Electric blue acara is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller peppered corydoras.
- Electric blue acara defends its patch of the bottom and may chase peppered corydoras, which use the same area.
- Firemouth cichlid · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Firemouth cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase peppered 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 defends its patch of the bottom and may chase peppered 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).
- Pictus catfish · 75+ gal
- Pictus catfish may eat peppered corydoras, especially young or small ones.
- Rainbow shark · 75+ gal
- Rainbow shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller peppered corydoras.
- Rainbow shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase peppered corydoras, which use the same area.
- Red-tail shark · 75+ gal
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase peppered 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).
- White cloud mountain minnow · 15+ gal
- 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).
- 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 peppered 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 peppered corydoras, which use the same area.
- Buenos Aires tetra · 29+ gal
- Buenos Aires tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like peppered corydoras.
- 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 peppered 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).
- Kissing gourami · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Kissing gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller peppered corydoras.
- 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).
- Ropefish · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Ropefish may eat peppered corydoras, especially young or small ones.
- 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 peppered corydoras, which use the same area.
- Serpae tetra · 20+ gal
- Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like peppered corydoras.
- Severum · 55+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
- Severum may eat peppered corydoras, especially young or small ones.
- Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller peppered 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).
- Tinfoil barb · 200+ gal
- Tinfoil barb may eat peppered corydoras, especially young or small ones.
- 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 (19)
- Oscar: Oscar can eat peppered corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Boesemani rainbowfish: They need different temperatures: Peppered corydoras 20–25°C (68–77°F), boesemani rainbowfish 26–29°C (79–84°F).
- Chinese algae eater: Chinese algae eater is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful peppered corydoras.
- Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful peppered corydoras.
- Discus: They need different temperatures: Peppered corydoras 20–25°C (68–77°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. Peppered corydoras don't belong in that setup.
- German blue ram: They need different temperatures: Peppered corydoras 20–25°C (68–77°F), german blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F).
- Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful peppered corydoras.
- Pea puffer: Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful peppered 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. Peppered corydoras don't belong in that setup.
- Red zebra cichlid: Red zebra cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful peppered 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. Peppered corydoras don't belong in that setup.
- Senegal bichir: Senegal bichir can eat peppered corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Black ghost knifefish: Black ghost knifefish can eat peppered 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 peppered 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. Peppered corydoras don't belong in that setup.
- Frontosa: Frontosa can eat peppered 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. Peppered corydoras don't belong in that setup.
- Green terror: Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful peppered corydoras.
- Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful peppered 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. Peppered corydoras don't belong in that setup.
- Zebra pleco: They need different temperatures: Peppered corydoras 20–25°C (68–77°F), zebra pleco 26–30°C (79–86°F).
Frequently asked questions
What fish can live with peppered corydoras?
Good tank mates for peppered corydoras include cherry shrimp, nerite snail, guppy, neon tetra, panda corydoras and bronze corydoras. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat peppered corydoras.
Can peppered corydoras live with angelfish?
Sometimes, with care. Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C). Angelfish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller peppered corydoras.
Can peppered corydoras live with bettas?
Sometimes, with care. Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
Can peppered corydoras live with bristlenose plecos?
Sometimes, with care. Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase peppered corydoras, which use the same area.
Can peppered 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.