Panda cory Tank Mates
Short answer: the best panda cory tank mates are Cherry shrimp, Betta fish, Dwarf gourami, Guppy, Bristlenose pleco, Harlequin rasbora. Panda corys need 72–77 °F (22–25 °C), pH 6–7.4 and at least 10 gallons. Keep them in a group of 6 or more.
Panda cory care at a glance
| Adult size | 2.0 in (5 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 10 US gallons |
| Temperature | 72–77 °F (22–25 °C) |
| pH | 6–7.4 |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Swims in | Bottom |
| Group size | Groups of 6+ |
| Care level | Easy |
gallon tank
✅ Compatible tank mates (43)
- Cherry shrimp
- Betta fish
- Dwarf gourami
- Guppy
- Bristlenose pleco
- Harlequin rasbora
- Molly
- Neon tetra
- Platy
- Tiger barb
- Nerite snail
- Amano shrimp
- Celestial pearl danio
- Chili rasbora
- Ember tetra
- Mystery snail
- Otocinclus
- Black skirt tetra
- Bronze cory
- Cardinal tetra
- Cherry barb
- Honey gourami
- Kuhli loach
- Rummy nose tetra
- Serpae tetra
- Zebra danio
- Swordtail
- Siamese algae eater
- Common pleco
- Pygmy cory
- Sparkling gourami
- Black neon tetra
- Bloodfin tetra
- Dwarf neon rainbowfish
- Glass catfish
- Lemon tetra
- Peppered cory
- X-ray tetra
- Buenos Aires tetra
- Congo tetra
- Gold barb
- Odessa barb
- Rosy barb
⚠️ Possible with caution (17)
- Angelfish — Very narrow shared temperature range: Angelfish 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Panda cory 22–25 °C (72–77 °F).
- Endler's livebearer — Very narrow shared temperature range: Endler's livebearer 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Panda cory 22–25 °C (72–77 °F).
- Glowlight tetra — Very narrow shared temperature range: Glowlight tetra 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Panda cory 22–25 °C (72–77 °F).
- Kribensis — Very narrow shared temperature range: Kribensis 24–27 °C (75–81 °F) vs Panda cory 22–25 °C (72–77 °F).
- Pearl gourami — Very narrow shared temperature range: Panda cory 22–25 °C (72–77 °F) vs Pearl gourami 24–30 °C (75–86 °F).
- Three spot gourami — Very narrow shared temperature range: Panda cory 22–25 °C (72–77 °F) vs Three spot gourami 24–30 °C (75–86 °F).
- Electric yellow cichlid — Very narrow shared temperature range: Panda cory 22–25 °C (72–77 °F) vs Electric yellow cichlid 24–28 °C (75–82 °F).
- Rainbow shark — Rainbow shark is a much larger territorial fish and may bully panda cory.
- Red tail shark — Red tail shark is a much larger territorial fish and may bully panda cory.
- Clown loach — Very narrow shared temperature range: Clown loach 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Panda cory 22–25 °C (72–77 °F).
- Cockatoo dwarf cichlid — Cockatoo dwarf cichlid defends a territory near the bottom (especially when breeding) and may chase panda cory.
- Forktail blue-eye — Very narrow shared temperature range: Forktail blue-eye 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Panda cory 22–25 °C (72–77 °F).
- Sterbai cory — Very narrow shared temperature range: Panda cory 22–25 °C (72–77 °F) vs Sterbai cory 24–28 °C (75–82 °F).
- Upside-down catfish — Very narrow shared temperature range: Panda cory 22–25 °C (72–77 °F) vs Upside-down catfish 24–28 °C (75–82 °F).
- Firemouth cichlid — An adult firemouth cichlid (up to 15 cm) may try to eat smaller panda cory (5 cm), especially at night.
- Bolivian ram — Very narrow shared temperature range: Bolivian ram 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Panda cory 22–25 °C (72–77 °F).
- Chinese algae eater — Chinese algae eater is a much larger territorial fish and may bully panda cory.
❌ Not recommended (11)
- Fancy goldfish — Coldwater and tropical fish don't mix: Fancy goldfish 20–23 °C (68–73 °F) vs Panda cory 22–25 °C (72–77 °F).
- Oscar — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat panda cory (5 cm).
- Pea puffer — Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully peaceful panda cory.
- German blue ram — No comfortable shared temperature: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Panda cory 22–25 °C (72–77 °F).
- White cloud mountain minnow — Coldwater and tropical fish don't mix: Panda cory 22–25 °C (72–77 °F) vs White cloud mountain minnow 14–22 °C (57–72 °F).
- Discus — No comfortable shared temperature: Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F) vs Panda cory 22–25 °C (72–77 °F).
- Paradise fish — No comfortable shared temperature: Panda cory 22–25 °C (72–77 °F) vs Paradise fish 10–22 °C (50–72 °F).
- Convict cichlid — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful panda cory.
- Boesemani rainbowfish — No comfortable shared temperature: Boesemani rainbowfish 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Panda cory 22–25 °C (72–77 °F).
- Jack Dempsey — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat panda cory (5 cm).
- Bala shark — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat panda cory (5 cm).
How many panda corys per tank?
10 gal 20 gal 29 gal 40 gal 55 gal 75 gal — see what else fits with our stocking calculator.
FAQ
What fish can live with panda corys?
Good matches include Cherry shrimp, Betta fish, Dwarf gourami, Guppy, Bristlenose pleco, Harlequin rasbora. They share a temperature range with panda corys (72–77 °F (22–25 °C)), are a similar temperament, and are not big enough to eat each other or nip fins.
What fish should not live with panda corys?
Avoid Fancy goldfish, Oscar, Pea puffer, German blue ram, White cloud mountain minnow, Discus.
What size tank do panda corys need?
We recommend at least 10 US gallons for a group of 6 panda corys, more if you add tank mates.
Can panda corys live alone?
No. Panda corys are social and should be kept in groups of at least 6.
Note: Compatibility depends on individual temperament, tank size, decor and how fish are introduced. Our verdicts use conservative rules applied to published care data (see methodology). They are guidance, not a guarantee. Quarantine new fish and watch for chasing, torn fins or hiding.