Rust Corydoras Tank Mates

Rust Corydoras is peaceful, so its tank mates need choosing with care. Here are the 169 freshwater species that pair well with a rust corydoras — plus the 3 to avoid — with a live checker you can tune to your own tank.

By The Aquarium DB Team • Updated June 8, 2026 • Full Rust Corydoras care guide →
Best matches

The best tank mates for a rust corydoras

  • Ember Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Neon Green Rasbora ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 2 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–26 °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 23–27 °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 23–27 °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 23–27 °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)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Endler's Livebearer ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Glowlight Danio ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 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.
  • Gold Ring Danio ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Malaysian Trumpet Snail ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 21–27 °C (70–81 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • 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; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Trinidad Guppy ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3 cm · 19–24 °C (66–75 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Pygmy Corydoras ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 3.2 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.
  • 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; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • 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)
    Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Glowlight Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Golden Dwarf Barb ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
    Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Phoenix Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Red Phantom Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 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.
  • Rosy Tetra ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 4 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.
With caution

Rust Corydoras tank mates that can work with care

  • Afra Cichlid ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Different pH ranges (6–7.5 vs 7.8–8.6); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
  • African Butterfly Cichlid ⚠️ With caution
    Medium 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 caution
    Hard care · Aggressive · 250 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Alligator Gar may bully the smaller Rust 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 Rust 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)
    Rust Corydoras may eat Amano Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
  • Amazon Puffer ⚠️ With caution
    Medium 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 caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 15 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    Angelfish may bully the smaller Rust Corydoras, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
  • Angelicus Synodontis ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    Angelicus Synodontis may bully the smaller Rust Corydoras, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.

+ 160 more “with caution” pairings — see the interactive checker above.

Avoid

Fish to avoid keeping with a rust corydoras

  • Imperial Flower Loach ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Semi-aggressive · 50 cm · 15–22 °C (59–72 °F)
    Temperature needs don't overlap (Rust Corydoras 23–27 °C vs Imperial Flower Loach 15–22 °C).
  • Goldfish ⛔ Avoid
    Medium care · Peaceful · 30 cm · 18–22 °C (64–72 °F)
    Temperature needs don't overlap (Rust Corydoras 23–27 °C vs Goldfish 18–22 °C).
  • Discus ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Peaceful · 20 cm · 28–31 °C (82–88 °F)
    Temperature needs don't overlap (Rust Corydoras 23–27 °C vs Discus 28–31 °C).
Interactive tool

Check any fish against a rust corydoras

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

Tank-mate checker

Will it live with a Rust Corydoras?

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

  • Adolf's Cory✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 5.5 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–26 °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 Rust Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Agassiz's Corydoras✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–27 °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 Rust Corydoras 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✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    • Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Rust Corydoras 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✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Rust Corydoras 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✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6 cm · Medium care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °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 Rust Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Bloodfin Tetra✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 5.5 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Keep Rust Corydoras 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✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6 cm · Hard care · 18–24 °C (64–75 °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 Rust Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Desert Goby✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    • Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–27 °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 Rust Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Diamond Tetra✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Rust Corydoras 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✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 5.5 cm · Medium care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–27 °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 Rust Corydoras 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✅ Compatible
    Semi-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 Rust Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Elegant Cory✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–27 °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 Rust Corydoras 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✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 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 Rust Corydoras 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.
  • German Blue Ram✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6 cm · Hard care · 27–30 °C (81–86 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 27–27 °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 Rust Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Glass Bloodfin Tetra✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Rust Corydoras 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✅ Compatible
    Semi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 21–28 °C (70–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Keep Rust Corydoras 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✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 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 Rust Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Hillstream Loach✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6 cm · Hard care · 20–24 °C (68–75 °F)
    • Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–24 °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 Rust Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Narcissus II Cory✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 5.5 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–26 °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 Rust Corydoras 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✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6 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.
    • Keep Rust Corydoras 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✅ Compatible
    Semi-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 Rust Corydoras 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✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6 cm · Hard care · 18–23 °C (64–73 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–23 °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 Rust Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Peaceful Betta✅ Compatible
    Semi-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 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Keep Rust Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Pearl Danio✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
    • Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Keep Rust Corydoras 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.
  • African Butterfly Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 8 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Rust Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Amano Shrimp⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    • Rust Corydoras may eat Amano Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
    • Keep Rust Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Amazon Puffer⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 8 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~120 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Rust Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Amazon Puffer in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Ash Lipped Apisto⚠️ With caution
    Semi-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 Rust Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Black Ruby Barb⚠️ With caution
    Semi-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 Rust Corydoras 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 caution
    Semi-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 Rust Corydoras 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.
  • Bright Diamond Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 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 Rust Corydoras 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 caution
    Semi-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 Rust Corydoras 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.
  • Colombian Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Semi-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 Rust Corydoras 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 caution
    Peaceful · 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 Rust Corydoras 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.
  • Ghost Shrimp⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    • Adult Ghost Shrimp might survive with Rust Corydoras, but expect the young to be eaten — plant heavily.
    • Keep Rust Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Humpbacked Tetra⚠️ With caution
    Semi-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 Rust Corydoras 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 caution
    Peaceful · 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 Rust Corydoras 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 caution
    Peaceful · 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 Rust Corydoras 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.
  • Rounded Filament Barb⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 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 Rust Corydoras 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 caution
    Semi-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 Rust Corydoras 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 recommended
    Peaceful · 20 cm · Hard care · 28–31 °C (82–88 °F)
    • Temperature needs don't overlap (Rust Corydoras 23–27 °C vs Discus 28–31 °C).
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~200 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Rust Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
    • Keep Discus in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Goldfish⛔ Not recommended
    Peaceful · 30 cm · Medium care · 18–22 °C (64–72 °F)
    • Temperature needs don't overlap (Rust Corydoras 23–27 °C vs Goldfish 18–22 °C).
    • Goldfish may bully the smaller Rust Corydoras, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~150 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Rust Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Imperial Flower Loach⛔ Not recommended
    Semi-aggressive · 50 cm · Hard care · 15–22 °C (59–72 °F)
    • Temperature needs don't overlap (Rust Corydoras 23–27 °C vs Imperial Flower Loach 15–22 °C).
    • Imperial Flower Loach may bully the smaller Rust Corydoras, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
    • Your 75 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Rust 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 rust corydoras 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

How to choose the right tank mates for a rust corydoras

As a peaceful species, rust 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.

Rust Corydoras 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 23–27 °C (73–81 °F), pH 6–7.5 and 2–12 dGH. Fish needing very different conditions — coldwater species, or hard-water lovers against a soft-water fish — rarely thrive side by side.

Rust 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 rust corydoras live with other fish?

Yes — with the right companions. Our checker finds 169 compatible freshwater species for rust 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 rust 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 rust corydoras?

Avoid Imperial Flower Loach, Goldfish, Discus and similar — usually a temperature, size or temperament clash. The full "avoid" list below gives the reason for each.

How big a tank do rust corydoras tank mates need?

Start from Rust Corydoras'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.

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