Sterbai cory Tank Mates
Short answer: the best sterbai cory tank mates are Cherry shrimp, Betta fish, Dwarf gourami, Guppy, Bristlenose pleco, Harlequin rasbora. Sterbai corys need 75–82 °F (24–28 °C), pH 6–7.6 and at least 20 gallons. Keep them in a group of 6 or more.
Sterbai cory care at a glance
| Adult size | 2.8 in (7 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 20 US gallons |
| Temperature | 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) |
| pH | 6–7.6 |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Swims in | Bottom |
| Group size | Groups of 6+ |
| Care level | Easy |
gallon tank
✅ Compatible tank mates (46)
- Cherry shrimp
- Betta fish
- Dwarf gourami
- Guppy
- Bristlenose pleco
- Harlequin rasbora
- Molly
- Platy
- Tiger barb
- Angelfish
- Amano shrimp
- Celestial pearl danio
- Chili rasbora
- Ember tetra
- Endler's livebearer
- Mystery snail
- Otocinclus
- Black skirt tetra
- Bronze cory
- Cardinal tetra
- Cherry barb
- Glowlight tetra
- Honey gourami
- Kuhli loach
- Rummy nose tetra
- Serpae tetra
- Pearl gourami
- Swordtail
- Three spot gourami
- Discus
- Siamese algae eater
- Common pleco
- Clown loach
- Pygmy cory
- Sparkling gourami
- Black neon tetra
- Bloodfin tetra
- Dwarf neon rainbowfish
- Forktail blue-eye
- Glass catfish
- Lemon tetra
- X-ray tetra
- Buenos Aires tetra
- Congo tetra
- Upside-down catfish
- Bolivian ram
⚠️ Possible with caution (14)
- Neon tetra — Very narrow shared temperature range: Neon tetra 21–25 °C (70–77 °F) vs Sterbai cory 24–28 °C (75–82 °F).
- Nerite snail — Very narrow shared temperature range: Nerite snail 22–25 °C (72–77 °F) vs Sterbai cory 24–28 °C (75–82 °F).
- Panda cory — Very narrow shared temperature range: Panda cory 22–25 °C (72–77 °F) vs Sterbai cory 24–28 °C (75–82 °F).
- German blue ram — Very narrow shared temperature range: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Sterbai cory 24–28 °C (75–82 °F).
- Zebra danio — Very narrow shared temperature range: Sterbai cory 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs Zebra danio 18–25 °C (64–77 °F).
- Kribensis — Kribensis defends a territory near the bottom (especially when breeding) and may chase sterbai cory.
- Electric yellow cichlid — pH preferences don't overlap (Sterbai cory 6–7.6, Electric yellow cichlid 7.7–8.6). Captive-bred fish often adapt, but one of them will be outside its comfort zone.
- Rainbow shark — Rainbow shark is a much larger territorial fish and may bully sterbai cory.
- Red tail shark — Red tail shark defends a territory near the bottom (especially when breeding) and may chase sterbai cory.
- Cockatoo dwarf cichlid — Cockatoo dwarf cichlid defends a territory near the bottom (especially when breeding) and may chase sterbai cory.
- Odessa barb — Very narrow shared temperature range: Odessa barb 16–25 °C (61–77 °F) vs Sterbai cory 24–28 °C (75–82 °F).
- Firemouth cichlid — Firemouth cichlid is a much larger territorial fish and may bully sterbai cory.
- Boesemani rainbowfish — Very narrow shared temperature range: Boesemani rainbowfish 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Sterbai cory 24–28 °C (75–82 °F).
- Chinese algae eater — Chinese algae eater is a much larger territorial fish and may bully sterbai cory.
❌ Not recommended (11)
- Fancy goldfish — Coldwater and tropical fish don't mix: Fancy goldfish 20–23 °C (68–73 °F) vs Sterbai cory 24–28 °C (75–82 °F).
- Oscar — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat sterbai cory (7 cm).
- Pea puffer — Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully peaceful sterbai cory.
- White cloud mountain minnow — Coldwater and tropical fish don't mix: Sterbai cory 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) vs White cloud mountain minnow 14–22 °C (57–72 °F).
- Paradise fish — No comfortable shared temperature: Paradise fish 10–22 °C (50–72 °F) vs Sterbai cory 24–28 °C (75–82 °F).
- Peppered cory — No comfortable shared temperature: Peppered cory 20–24 °C (68–75 °F) vs Sterbai cory 24–28 °C (75–82 °F).
- Convict cichlid — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful sterbai cory.
- Gold barb — No comfortable shared temperature: Gold barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F) vs Sterbai cory 24–28 °C (75–82 °F).
- Rosy barb — No comfortable shared temperature: Rosy barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F) vs Sterbai cory 24–28 °C (75–82 °F).
- Jack Dempsey — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat sterbai cory (7 cm).
- Bala shark — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat sterbai cory (7 cm).
How many sterbai corys per tank?
20 gal 29 gal 40 gal 55 gal 75 gal — see what else fits with our stocking calculator.
FAQ
What fish can live with sterbai corys?
Good matches include Cherry shrimp, Betta fish, Dwarf gourami, Guppy, Bristlenose pleco, Harlequin rasbora. They share a temperature range with sterbai corys (75–82 °F (24–28 °C)), are a similar temperament, and are not big enough to eat each other or nip fins.
What fish should not live with sterbai corys?
Avoid Fancy goldfish, Oscar, Pea puffer, White cloud mountain minnow, Paradise fish, Peppered cory.
What size tank do sterbai corys need?
We recommend at least 20 US gallons for a group of 6 sterbai corys, more if you add tank mates.
Can sterbai corys live alone?
No. Sterbai 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.