Adolf's Cory Tank Mates
Adolf's Cory is peaceful, so its tank mates need choosing with care. Here are the 163 freshwater species that pair well with an adolf's cory — plus the 2 to avoid — with a live checker you can tune to your own tank.
The best tank mates for an adolf's cory
- Ember Tetra ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Neon Green Rasbora ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Ramshorn Snail ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Red Lip Nerite Snail ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Dawn Tetra ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 2.5 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Nerite Snail ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 2.5 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Assassin Snail ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Glowlight Danio ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Gold Ring Danio ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Malaysian Trumpet Snail ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 21–27 °C (70–81 °F)Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Neon Tetra ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Tail-spot Corydoras ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Trinidad Guppy ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 19–24 °C (66–75 °F)Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Pygmy Corydoras ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 3.2 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Glowlight Rasbora ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 3.5 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Blue Danio ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 21–26 °C (70–79 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Emperor Tetra ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Flame Tetra ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Glowlight Tetra ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Golden Dwarf Barb ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Phoenix Tetra ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Red Phantom Tetra ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Rosy Tetra ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Serpae Tetra ✅ CompatibleEasy care · Semi-aggressive · 4 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
Adolf's Cory tank mates that can work with care
- Afra Cichlid ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)Different pH ranges (5.8–7.2 vs 7.8–8.6); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- African Butterfly Cichlid ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 8 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Alligator Gar ⚠️ With cautionHard care · Aggressive · 250 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)Alligator Gar may bully the smaller Adolf's Cory, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Altifrons Geophagus ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)Altifrons Geophagus may bully the smaller Adolf's Cory, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Amano Shrimp ⚠️ With cautionEasy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)Adolf's Cory may eat Amano Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
- Amazon Puffer ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Peaceful · 8 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)Your 75 L tank is below the ~120 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Angelfish ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)Angelfish may bully the smaller Adolf's Cory, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
- Angelicus Synodontis ⚠️ With cautionMedium care · Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)Angelicus Synodontis may bully the smaller Adolf's Cory, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
+ 167 more “with caution” pairings — see the interactive checker above.
Fish to avoid keeping with an adolf's cory
- Discus ⛔ AvoidHard care · Peaceful · 20 cm · 28–31 °C (82–88 °F)Temperature needs don't overlap (Adolf's Cory 22–26 °C vs Discus 28–31 °C).
- German Blue Ram ⛔ AvoidHard care · Peaceful · 6 cm · 27–30 °C (81–86 °F)Temperature needs don't overlap (Adolf's Cory 22–26 °C vs German Blue Ram 27–30 °C).
Check any fish against an adolf's cory
Dial in your exact tank size and filter by result — the checker scores every species in our database against an adolf's cory, with the reasoning for each verdict.
Will it live with a Adolf's Cory?
We compare each fish against your adolf's cory on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.
- Agassiz's Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Agassiz's Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Black Skirt Tetra✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Black Skirt Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Blackline Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Blackline Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Blood Red Tiger Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Medium care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Bloodfin Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5.5 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Bloodfin Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Butterfly Hillstream Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Hard care · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Desert Goby✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Diamond Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Diamond Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Duplicareus Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5.5 cm · Medium care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Duplicareus Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Eastern Betta✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Elegant Cory✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Elegant Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- False Julii Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep False Julii Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Glass Bloodfin Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Glass Bloodfin Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- GloFish Tetra✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 21–28 °C (70–82 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep GloFish Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Guppy✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Hillstream Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Hard care · 20–24 °C (68–75 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Narcissus II Cory✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5.5 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Narcissus II Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Neon Dwarf Rainbowfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Neon Dwarf Rainbowfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Odessa Barb✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Odessa Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Panda Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Hard care · 18–23 °C (64–73 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–23 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Peaceful Betta✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Pearl Danio✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–25 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Pearl Danio in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Rust Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5.5 cm · Easy care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Rust Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Samurai Gourami✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Amano Shrimp⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
- Adolf's Cory may eat Amano Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Ash Lipped Apisto⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Hard care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Black Ruby Barb⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~100 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Black Ruby Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Bleeding Heart Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Bleeding Heart Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Blue Turbo Snail⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 5 cm · Medium care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
- Different pH ranges (5.8–7.2 vs 7.5–8.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Bright Diamond Tetra⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 7 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Bright Diamond Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Buenos Aires Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Buenos Aires Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Celebes Rainbowfish⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 7 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- One likes softer water and the other harder (1–8 vs 10–20 dGH) — a compromise, not a perfect match.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Celebes Rainbowfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Colombian Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6.5 cm · Easy care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~114 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Colombian Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Dwarf Chain Loach⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 6 cm · Medium care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Dwarf Chain Loach in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Humpbacked Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 5 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Humpbacked Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Melon Barb⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Melon Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Morse Code Corydoras⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 5 cm · Medium care · 23–26 °C (73–79 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Morse Code Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Platy⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 21–28 °C (70–82 °F)
- One likes softer water and the other harder (1–8 vs 10–28 dGH) — a compromise, not a perfect match.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Rounded Filament Barb⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 7 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Rounded Filament Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Tiger Barb⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~95 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Tiger Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Discus⛔ Not recommendedPeaceful · 20 cm · Hard care · 28–31 °C (82–88 °F)
- Temperature needs don't overlap (Adolf's Cory 22–26 °C vs Discus 28–31 °C).
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~200 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Discus in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- German Blue Ram⛔ Not recommendedPeaceful · 6 cm · Hard care · 27–30 °C (81–86 °F)
- Temperature needs don't overlap (Adolf's Cory 22–26 °C vs German Blue Ram 27–30 °C).
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
Compatibility is computed from each species' care data — a strong starting point, not a guarantee. Individual temperament varies, so always introduce new fish slowly and watch them.
Setting up an adolf's cory community tank
Give the group a stable, planted 75 L+ tank with a gentle filter, a reliable heater and plenty of cover — broken sight lines and hiding spots let mid-water and bottom dwellers keep out of each other's way. Cycle it fully and stock gradually.
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How to choose the right tank mates for an adolf's cory
As a peaceful species, adolf's cory is easily bullied — favour other calm, non-nippy fish and steer clear of boisterous or aggressive tank mates. It mostly occupies the bottom of the tank, so it pairs naturally with species that use the other levels.
Adolf's Cory grows to about 5.5 cm, so avoid tank mates small enough to be seen as food — as a rule of thumb, skip anything under roughly 3 cm. Match its water, too: aim for 22–26 °C (72–79 °F), pH 5.8–7.2 and 1–8 dGH. Fish needing very different conditions — coldwater species, or hard-water lovers against a soft-water fish — rarely thrive side by side.
Adolf's Cory is a shoaling fish — stock a group of 6+ of its own kind first, then build compatible tank mates around them. Whatever you add, introduce new fish slowly, watch for bullying in the first days, and have a backup plan if temperaments clash.
Frequently asked questions
Can an adolf's cory live with other fish?
Yes — with the right companions. Our checker finds 163 compatible freshwater species for adolf's cory. Pick calm, similarly-sized fish that share its water needs and add them to a mature, well-planted tank.
What is the best tank mate for an adolf's cory?
Easy, peaceful, similarly-sized species top the list — for example Ember Tetra, Neon Green Rasbora, Ramshorn Snail. Use the checker above to match against your own tank size.
What fish should you avoid keeping with an adolf's cory?
Avoid Discus, German Blue Ram and similar — usually a temperature, size or temperament clash. The full "avoid" list below gives the reason for each.
How big a tank do adolf's cory tank mates need?
Start from Adolf's Cory's own minimum and scale up with every addition. The checker above defaults to a 75 L community tank and flags pairings that need more room — drag the slider to match your setup.