Tank mates for sterbai corydoras
We checked sterbai corydoras against all 149 other species in our database for water temperature, pH, size, fin nipping, predation and aggression.
Good tank mates for sterbai corydoras include betta fish, cherry shrimp, nerite snail, guppy, dwarf gourami and neon tetra. Avoid common goldfish, oscar and chinese algae eater: they need different temperatures: Sterbai corydoras 23–28°C (73–82°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
Sterbai corydoras: 23–28°C (73–82°F), pH 6–7.5, adult size 6.5 cm (2.6 in), minimum tank 20 gallons (76 L). Full sterbai corydoras care guide.
Good Compatible tank mates (97)
Shared water conditions and no known conflict. Still add fish slowly and watch them.
Betta fish
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 5+ gal
Bronze corydoras
7 cm (2.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Cherry shrimp
3 cm (1.2 in) · 5+ gal · groups of 10+
Sterbai 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+
Sterbai 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+
Boesemani rainbowfish
10 cm (3.9 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+
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+
Clown loach
25 cm (9.8 in) · 180+ gal · groups of 5+
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+
Sterbai 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+
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+
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
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+
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
Sterbai 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+
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+
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+
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+
Peacock gudgeon
6 cm (2.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 2+
Penguin tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Rabbit snail
8 cm (3.1 in) · 29+ gal
Red rainbowfish
12 cm (4.7 in) · 40+ gal · groups of 6+
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+
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
Sterbai 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+
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+
Moonlight gourami
14 cm (5.5 in) · 29+ gal
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
Caution Possible, with care (35)
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 sterbai corydoras.
- Bristlenose pleco · 20+ gal
- Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase sterbai corydoras, which use the same area.
- Common pleco · 150+ gal
- Common pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase sterbai corydoras, which use the same area.
- Fancy goldfish · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–23°C).
- 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 sterbai corydoras.
- Bala shark · 230+ gal
- Bala shark may eat sterbai corydoras, especially young or small ones.
- Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
- Blood parrot cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller sterbai corydoras.
- Discus · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 28–28°C).
- Dojo loach · 75+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–23°C).
- 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 may eat sterbai corydoras, especially young or small ones.
- Electric blue acara is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller sterbai corydoras.
- Electric blue acara defends its patch of the bottom and may chase sterbai corydoras, which use the same area.
- Firemouth cichlid · 29+ gal
- Firemouth cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase sterbai corydoras, which use the same area.
- German blue ram · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–28°C).
- German blue ram defends its patch of the bottom and may chase sterbai corydoras, which use the same area.
- Hillstream loach · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Kribensis · 29+ gal
- Kribensis defends its patch of the bottom and may chase sterbai corydoras, which use the same area.
- Pictus catfish · 75+ gal
- Pictus catfish may eat sterbai corydoras, especially young or small ones.
- Rainbow shark · 75+ gal
- Rainbow shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller sterbai corydoras.
- Rainbow shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase sterbai corydoras, which use the same area.
- Red-tail shark · 75+ gal
- Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase sterbai corydoras, which use the same area.
- Rosy barb · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°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
- Agassiz's dwarf cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase sterbai corydoras, which use the same area.
- Bolivian ram · 29+ gal
- Bolivian ram defends its patch of the bottom and may chase sterbai corydoras, which use the same area.
- Buenos Aires tetra · 29+ gal
- Buenos Aires tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like sterbai corydoras.
- Cockatoo cichlid · 20+ gal
- Cockatoo cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase sterbai corydoras, which use the same area.
- Crystal red shrimp · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
- Dwarf orange crayfish · 10+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Gold barb · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Kissing gourami · 75+ gal
- Kissing gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller sterbai corydoras.
- Paradise fish · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Ropefish · 75+ gal
- Ropefish may eat sterbai corydoras, especially young or small ones.
- Rubber lip pleco · 29+ gal
- Rubber lip pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase sterbai corydoras, which use the same area.
- Serpae tetra · 20+ gal
- Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like sterbai corydoras.
- Severum · 55+ gal
- Severum may eat sterbai corydoras, especially young or small ones.
- Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller sterbai corydoras.
- Tinfoil barb · 200+ gal
- Tinfoil barb may eat sterbai corydoras, especially young or small ones.
- Zebra pleco · 20+ gal
- Zebra pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase sterbai corydoras, which use the same area.
- Glowlight danio · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 23–24°C).
- Variatus platy · 15+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
Avoid Bad tank mates (17)
- Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Sterbai corydoras 23–28°C (73–82°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
- Oscar: Oscar can eat sterbai 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 sterbai corydoras.
- Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful sterbai corydoras.
- 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. Sterbai corydoras don't belong in that setup.
- Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful sterbai corydoras.
- Pea puffer: Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful sterbai 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. Sterbai corydoras don't belong in that setup.
- Red zebra cichlid: Red zebra cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful sterbai 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. Sterbai corydoras don't belong in that setup.
- Senegal bichir: Senegal bichir can eat sterbai corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- White cloud mountain minnow: They need different temperatures: Sterbai corydoras 23–28°C (73–82°F), white cloud mountain minnow 16–22°C (61–72°F).
- Black ghost knifefish: Black ghost knifefish can eat sterbai 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 sterbai 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. Sterbai corydoras don't belong in that setup.
- Frontosa: Frontosa can eat sterbai 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. Sterbai corydoras don't belong in that setup.
- Green terror: Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful sterbai corydoras.
- Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful sterbai 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. Sterbai corydoras don't belong in that setup.
Frequently asked questions
What fish can live with sterbai corydoras?
Good tank mates for sterbai 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 sterbai corydoras.
Can sterbai corydoras live with angelfish?
Sometimes, with care. Angelfish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller sterbai corydoras.
Can sterbai corydoras live with bettas?
Yes. They share similar water needs (24–28°C (75–82°F)) and peaceful temperaments.
Can sterbai corydoras live with bristlenose plecos?
Sometimes, with care. Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase sterbai corydoras, which use the same area.
Can sterbai corydoras live with bronze corydoras?
Yes. They share similar water needs (23–26°C (73–79°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.