Bearded Corydoras Tank Mates

Bearded Corydoras is peaceful, so its tank mates need choosing with care. Here are the 182 freshwater species that pair well with a bearded corydoras — plus the 19 to avoid — with a live checker you can tune to your own tank.

By The Aquarium DB Team • Updated June 7, 2026 • Full Bearded Corydoras care guide →
Best matches

The best tank mates for a bearded corydoras

  • Ember Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 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.
  • Neon Green Rasbora ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Ramshorn Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 20–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Red Lip Nerite Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Dawn Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2.5 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Nerite Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy 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.
  • Assassin Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Endler's Livebearer ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 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.
  • Glowlight Danio ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Gold Ring Danio ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Malaysian Trumpet Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy 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 ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Tail-spot Corydoras ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Trinidad Guppy ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 19–24 °C (66–75 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Pygmy Corydoras ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3.2 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Glowlight Rasbora ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3.5 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Blue Danio ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 21–26 °C (70–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 21–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Emperor Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 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.
  • Flame Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Glowlight Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Golden Dwarf Barb ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 18–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Phoenix Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Red Phantom Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Rosy Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
With caution

Bearded Corydoras tank mates that can work with care

  • Afra Cichlid ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    pH preferences only just meet (Bearded Corydoras 6–7.6 vs Afra Cichlid 7.8–8.6) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
  • Alligator Gar ⚠️ With caution
    Hard care · Aggressive · 250 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Alligator Gar may bully the smaller Bearded Corydoras, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
  • Altifrons Geophagus ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Altifrons Geophagus may bully the smaller Bearded Corydoras, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
  • Amano Shrimp ⚠️ With caution
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    Adult Amano Shrimp might survive with Bearded Corydoras, but expect the young to be eaten — plant heavily.
  • Amazon Puffer ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Peaceful · 8 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Your 80 L tank is below the ~120 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Angelfish ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    Your 80 L tank is below the ~110 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Angelicus Synodontis ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    Angelicus Synodontis may bully the smaller Bearded Corydoras, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
  • Arrowhead Puffer ⚠️ With caution
    Hard care · Aggressive · 12 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Your 80 L tank is below the ~132 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.

+ 131 more “with caution” pairings — see the interactive checker above.

Avoid

Fish to avoid keeping with a bearded corydoras

  • Nile Bichir ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 70 cm · 25–28 °C (77–82 °F)
    Temperature needs don't overlap (Bearded Corydoras 18–24 °C vs Nile Bichir 25–28 °C).
  • Jaguar Cichlid ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 55 cm · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
    Temperature needs don't overlap (Bearded Corydoras 18–24 °C vs Jaguar Cichlid 25–30 °C).
  • Clown Loach ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Peaceful · 30 cm · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
    Temperature needs don't overlap (Bearded Corydoras 18–24 °C vs Clown Loach 25–30 °C).
  • Flowerhorn Cichlid ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Aggressive · 30 cm · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
    Temperature needs don't overlap (Bearded Corydoras 18–24 °C vs Flowerhorn Cichlid 25–30 °C).
  • Mango Pleco ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Semi-aggressive · 28 cm · 25–32 °C (77–90 °F)
    Temperature needs don't overlap (Bearded Corydoras 18–24 °C vs Mango Pleco 25–32 °C).
  • Ringtail Pike Cichlid ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 28 cm · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
    Temperature needs don't overlap (Bearded Corydoras 18–24 °C vs Ringtail Pike Cichlid 25–30 °C).
  • Blackthroat Cichlid ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 25 cm · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)
    Temperature needs don't overlap (Bearded Corydoras 18–24 °C vs Blackthroat Cichlid 26–30 °C).
  • Spotted Severum ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)
    Temperature needs don't overlap (Bearded Corydoras 18–24 °C vs Spotted Severum 26–30 °C).

+ 11 more to avoid — the checker above flags every one.

Interactive tool

Check any fish against a bearded corydoras

Dial in your exact tank size and filter by result — the checker scores every species in our database against a bearded corydoras, with the reasoning for each verdict.

Tank-mate checker

Will it live with a Bearded Corydoras?

We compare each fish against your bearded corydoras on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.

  • African Butterfly Cichlid✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 8 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 9 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–24 °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 Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Badis✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 8 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °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 Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Banded Gourami✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 12 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Black Kuhli Loach✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 8 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–24 °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 Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Brilliant Rasbora✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 9 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Brilliant Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Burmese Loach✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 9 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °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 Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Clown Pleco✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 9 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–24 °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 Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 8 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–24 °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 Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Giant Betta✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Giant Kuhli Loach✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–24 °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 Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Golden Wonder Killifish✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Keyhole Cichlid✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Kribensis✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–24 °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 Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Kuhli Loach✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–24 °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 Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Molly✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Murray River Rainbowfish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 11 cm · Easy care · 15–26 °C (59–79 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Murray River Rainbowfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Paradise Fish✅ Compatible
    Aggressive · 10 cm · Medium care · 16–26 °C (61–79 °F)
    • Peaceful + 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 Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Porthole Catfish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °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 Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Rosy Barb✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 18–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Rosy Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Spotted Rubbernose Pleco✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 20–24 °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 Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Thick-lipped Gourami✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 9 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Tiger Betta✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 11 cm · Hard care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Topaz Cichlid✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °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 Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Afra Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • pH preferences only just meet (Bearded Corydoras 6–7.6 vs Afra Cichlid 7.8–8.6) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • Your 80 L tank is below the ~150 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Afra Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Auratus Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 11 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Your 80 L tank is below the ~190 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Auratus Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Bandit Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 9 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Your 80 L tank is below the ~150 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Bandit Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Boesemani Rainbowfish⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 11 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Your 80 L tank is below the ~115 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Boesemani Rainbowfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Brichardi Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 9 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • pH preferences only just meet (Bearded Corydoras 6–7.6 vs Brichardi Cichlid 7.8–9) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • Your 80 L tank is below the ~120 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Clown Rasbora⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Your 80 L tank is below the ~110 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Convict Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 10 cm · Easy care · 21–28 °C (70–82 °F)
    • Your 80 L tank is below the ~110 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Daffodil Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · Medium care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (6–7.6 vs 7.8–9); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Your 80 L tank is below the ~120 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Demasoni Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 9 cm · Hard care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    • pH preferences only just meet (Bearded Corydoras 6–7.6 vs Demasoni Cichlid 7.8–8.6) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • Your 80 L tank is below the ~200 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Demasoni Cichlid in a shoal of 12+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Electric Yellow Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · Medium care · 23–26 °C (73–79 °F)
    • pH preferences only just meet (Bearded Corydoras 6–7.6 vs Electric Yellow Cichlid 7.8–8.9) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
    • Your 80 L tank is below the ~200 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Giant Danio⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 20–27 °C (68–81 °F)
    • Your 80 L tank is below the ~110 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Giant Danio in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Johanni Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 10 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (6–7.6 vs 7.8–8.6); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Your 80 L tank is below the ~200 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Johanni Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Lifalili Jewel Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Aggressive · 9 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Your 80 L tank is below the ~120 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Rusty Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (6–7.6 vs 7.8–8.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Your 80 L tank is below the ~150 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (6–7.6 vs 8–9); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Your 80 L tank is below the ~130 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Upside-down Catfish⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Your 80 L tank is below the ~115 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Blackthroat Cichlid⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 25 cm · Hard care · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)
    • Temperature needs don't overlap (Bearded Corydoras 18–24 °C vs Blackthroat Cichlid 26–30 °C).
    • Blackthroat Cichlid may bully the smaller Bearded Corydoras, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
    • Your 80 L tank is below the ~400 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Clown Loach⛔ Not recommended
    Peaceful · 30 cm · Medium care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
    • Temperature needs don't overlap (Bearded Corydoras 18–24 °C vs Clown Loach 25–30 °C).
    • Clown Loach may bully the smaller Bearded Corydoras, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
    • Your 80 L tank is below the ~400 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Flowerhorn Cichlid⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 30 cm · Medium care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
    • Temperature needs don't overlap (Bearded Corydoras 18–24 °C vs Flowerhorn Cichlid 25–30 °C).
    • Flowerhorn Cichlid may bully the smaller Bearded Corydoras, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
    • Your 80 L tank is below the ~340 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Jaguar Cichlid⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 55 cm · Hard care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
    • Temperature needs don't overlap (Bearded Corydoras 18–24 °C vs Jaguar Cichlid 25–30 °C).
    • Jaguar Cichlid may bully the smaller Bearded Corydoras, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
    • Your 80 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Mango Pleco⛔ Not recommended
    Semi-aggressive · 28 cm · Hard care · 25–32 °C (77–90 °F)
    • Temperature needs don't overlap (Bearded Corydoras 18–24 °C vs Mango Pleco 25–32 °C).
    • Mango Pleco may bully the smaller Bearded Corydoras, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
    • Your 80 L tank is below the ~265 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Nile Bichir⛔ Not recommended
    Semi-aggressive · 70 cm · Medium care · 25–28 °C (77–82 °F)
    • Temperature needs don't overlap (Bearded Corydoras 18–24 °C vs Nile Bichir 25–28 °C).
    • Nile Bichir may bully the smaller Bearded Corydoras, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
    • Your 80 L tank is below the ~450 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Ringtail Pike Cichlid⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 28 cm · Hard care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
    • Temperature needs don't overlap (Bearded Corydoras 18–24 °C vs Ringtail Pike Cichlid 25–30 °C).
    • Ringtail Pike Cichlid may bully the smaller Bearded Corydoras, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
    • Your 80 L tank is below the ~250 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Spotted Severum⛔ Not recommended
    Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · Medium care · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)
    • Temperature needs don't overlap (Bearded Corydoras 18–24 °C vs Spotted Severum 26–30 °C).
    • Spotted Severum may bully the smaller Bearded Corydoras, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
    • Your 80 L tank is below the ~300 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras 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 a bearded corydoras community tank

Give the group a stable, planted 80 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

How to choose the right tank mates for a bearded corydoras

As a peaceful species, bearded corydoras 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.

Bearded Corydoras grows to about 10 cm, so avoid tank mates small enough to be seen as food — as a rule of thumb, skip anything under roughly 5 cm. Match its water, too: aim for 18–24 °C (64–75 °F), pH 6–7.6 and 2–15 dGH. Fish needing very different conditions — coldwater species, or hard-water lovers against a soft-water fish — rarely thrive side by side.

Bearded Corydoras 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.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Can a bearded corydoras live with other fish?

Yes — with the right companions. Our checker finds 182 compatible freshwater species for bearded corydoras. 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 a bearded corydoras?

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 a bearded corydoras?

Avoid Nile Bichir, Jaguar Cichlid, Clown Loach and similar — usually a temperature, size or temperament clash. The full "avoid" list below gives the reason for each.

How big a tank do bearded corydoras tank mates need?

Start from Bearded Corydoras's own minimum and scale up with every addition. The checker above defaults to a 80 L community tank and flags pairings that need more room — drag the slider to match your setup.

← Back to the full Bearded Corydoras care guide