catfish · freshwater

Julii Cory: adult size, tank size & tankmates

The Julii Cory (Corydoras trilineatus) grows to about 2.6 in (5.5 cm SL). It needs a tank at least 18 inches long and about 11 gallons. Keep at least 6 together, at 72–79°F.

How big it really gets

Drawn to scale against common tank lengths. Green bars meet the minimum tank length from our sources.

Adult: about 2.6 in · needs 18 in of tank10 gal · 20 in ✓20 long / 29 · 30 in ✓40 breeder · 36 in ✓55 / 75 gal · 48 in ✓125 gal · 72 in ✓

Will it fit your tank?

Check a full stocking list →

Quick facts

Adult size
2.6 in (5.5 cm SL)
Minimum tank
18 inches long and about 11 gallons
Temperature
72–79°F
pH
5.8–7.2
Hardness
1–12 dGH
Group size
6+
With other fish
peaceful
With its own kind
peaceful
Swims
bottom of the tank
Diet
omnivore
Care level
beginner
Lifespan
not stated in sources

Watch for: may eat baby shrimp

Julii Cory tankmates

Checked with the same rules as our tank builder: temperature overlap, pH and hardness, predation and mouth size, fin-nipping and temperament. Tank size is left out here; check it in the builder.

Good tankmates

Use caution

Avoid

All 105 species we checked against the Julii Cory
SpeciesVerdictWhy
African Dwarf FrogCompatibleNo conflicts found
Bala SharkCompatibleNo conflicts found
BettaCompatibleNo conflicts found
Black Neon TetraCompatibleNo conflicts found
Black Skirt TetraCompatibleNo conflicts found
Bleeding Heart TetraCompatibleNo conflicts found
Bolivian RamCompatibleNo conflicts found
Bristlenose PlecoCompatibleNo conflicts found
Bronze CoryCompatibleNo conflicts found
Buenos Aires TetraCompatibleNo conflicts found
Bumblebee GobyCompatibleNo conflicts found
Cardinal TetraCompatibleNo conflicts found
Celestial Pearl DanioCompatibleNo conflicts found
Cherry BarbCompatibleNo conflicts found
Chili RasboraCompatibleNo conflicts found
Clown KillifishCompatibleNo conflicts found
Clown LoachCompatibleNo conflicts found
Clown PlecoCompatibleNo conflicts found
Cockatoo Dwarf CichlidCompatibleNo conflicts found
Common / Comet GoldfishCompatibleNo conflicts found
Common PlecoCompatibleNo conflicts found
Congo TetraCompatibleNo conflicts found
Denison BarbCompatibleNo conflicts found
Diamond TetraCompatibleNo conflicts found
Dwarf Neon RainbowfishCompatibleNo conflicts found
Ember TetraCompatibleNo conflicts found
Giant DanioCompatibleNo conflicts found
Glass CatfishCompatibleNo conflicts found
Glowlight TetraCompatibleNo conflicts found
Gold BarbCompatibleNo conflicts found
GuppyCompatibleNo conflicts found
Harlequin RasboraCompatibleNo conflicts found
Head-and-tail-light TetraCompatibleNo conflicts found
Hillstream LoachCompatibleNo conflicts found
Honey GouramiCompatibleNo conflicts found
Japanese Trapdoor SnailCompatibleNo conflicts found
KribensisCompatibleNo conflicts found
Kuhli LoachCompatibleNo conflicts found
Lambchop RasboraCompatibleNo conflicts found
Lemon TetraCompatibleNo conflicts found
Malaysian Trumpet SnailCompatibleNo conflicts found
Marbled HatchetfishCompatibleNo conflicts found
Moonlight GouramiCompatibleNo conflicts found
Neon TetraCompatibleNo conflicts found
Odessa BarbCompatibleNo conflicts found
OtocinclusCompatibleNo conflicts found
Panda CoryCompatibleNo conflicts found
Pea PufferCompatibleNo conflicts found
Pearl DanioCompatibleNo conflicts found
Pearl GouramiCompatibleNo conflicts found
Penguin TetraCompatibleNo conflicts found
Peppered CoryCompatibleNo conflicts found
PlatyCompatibleNo conflicts found
Pristella TetraCompatibleNo conflicts found
Pygmy CoryCompatibleNo conflicts found
Ramshorn SnailCompatibleNo conflicts found
Rosy BarbCompatibleNo conflicts found
Rummy-nose TetraCompatibleNo conflicts found
Scissortail RasboraCompatibleNo conflicts found
Serpae TetraCompatibleNo conflicts found
Siamese Algae EaterCompatibleNo conflicts found
Silver HatchetfishCompatibleNo conflicts found
Silver Tip TetraCompatibleNo conflicts found
Sparkling GouramiCompatibleNo conflicts found
Sterbai CoryCompatibleNo conflicts found
SwordtailCompatibleNo conflicts found
Tiger BarbCompatibleNo conflicts found
Tinfoil BarbCompatibleNo conflicts found
Upside-down CatfishCompatibleNo conflicts found
Weather LoachCompatibleNo conflicts found
Zebra DanioCompatibleNo conflicts found
Amano ShrimpCautionJulii Cory may eat baby Amano Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets.
AngelfishCautionAngelfish can bully smaller, peaceful Julii Cory.
Assassin SnailCautionJulii Cory (pH 5.8–7.2) and Assassin Snail (pH 7.5–8) prefer different pH.
Bamboo ShrimpCautionJulii Cory may eat baby Bamboo Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets.
Blood Parrot CichlidCautionBlood Parrot Cichlid can bully smaller, peaceful Julii Cory.
Cherry ShrimpCautionJulii Cory may eat baby Cherry Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets.
Crystal Red ShrimpCautionJulii Cory may eat baby Crystal Red Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets.
DiscusCautionJulii Cory and Discus only share 79–79°F. That's a tight window.
Dwarf GouramiCautionDwarf Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful Julii Cory.
Electric Blue AcaraCautionElectric Blue Acara can bully smaller, peaceful Julii Cory.
Electric Yellow LabCautionElectric Yellow Lab can bully smaller, peaceful Julii Cory.; Julii Cory (pH 5.8–7.2) and Electric Yellow Lab (pH 7.7–8.6) prefer different pH.
Endler's LivebearerCautionJulii Cory (1–12 dGH) and Endler's Livebearer (15–35 dGH) prefer different water hardness.
Firemouth CichlidCautionFiremouth Cichlid can bully smaller, peaceful Julii Cory.
Forktail Blue-eyeCautionJulii Cory (1–12 dGH) and Forktail Blue-eye (15–30 dGH) prefer different water hardness.
Ghost ShrimpCautionJulii Cory may eat baby Ghost Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets.
Kissing GouramiCautionKissing Gourami grows 5× longer than Julii Cory and may treat it as food.; Kissing Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful Julii Cory.
MollyCautionJulii Cory (1–12 dGH) and Molly (15–30 dGH) prefer different water hardness.
Mystery SnailCautionJulii Cory (pH 5.8–7.2) and Mystery Snail (pH unknown) prefer different pH.; Julii Cory (1–12 dGH) and Mystery Snail (unknown dGH) prefer different water hardness.
Nerite SnailCautionJulii Cory (pH 5.8–7.2) and Nerite Snail (pH 8–8.4) prefer different pH.
Paradise FishCautionJulii Cory and Paradise Fish only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window.
Pictus CatfishCautionPictus Catfish can bully smaller, peaceful Julii Cory.
Rainbow SharkCautionRainbow Shark can bully smaller, peaceful Julii Cory.
Red-Tail SharkCautionRed-Tail Shark can bully smaller, peaceful Julii Cory.
Three-spot GouramiCautionThree-spot Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful Julii Cory.
Variatus PlatyCautionJulii Cory (1–12 dGH) and Variatus Platy (14–30 dGH) prefer different water hardness.
White Cloud Mountain MinnowCautionJulii Cory and White Cloud Mountain Minnow only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window.
Yoyo LoachCautionYoyo Loach can bully smaller, peaceful Julii Cory.
Boesemani RainbowfishAvoidJulii Cory (72–79°F) and Boesemani Rainbowfish (81–86°F) need different temperatures.
Chinese Algae EaterAvoidChinese Algae Eater grows 5× longer than Julii Cory and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Julii Cory is peaceful.
Convict CichlidAvoidConvict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Julii Cory is peaceful.
Fancy GoldfishAvoidJulii Cory (72–79°F) and Fancy Goldfish (50–70°F) need different temperatures.
German Blue RamAvoidJulii Cory (72–79°F) and German Blue Ram (81–86°F) need different temperatures.
Iridescent SharkAvoidIridescent Shark eats small fish, and Julii Cory only grows to about 2.6 in.
OscarAvoidOscar eats small fish, and Julii Cory only grows to about 2.6 in.

Care notes

Needs: Fine sand substrate required to safeguard sensory barbels; sensitive to accumulated organic waste in substrate.

Group: Social shoaling species; maintain in groups of 6 or more conspecifics.

Temperament: peaceful toward other fish, peaceful toward its own kind. Lives in the bottom of the tank.

Common questions

How big does a Julii Cory get?

About 2.6 inches (5.5 cm SL) as an adult, according to seriouslyfish.com.

What size tank does a Julii Cory need?

At least 18 inches long and about 11 gallons. The smallest standard tank that meets that is a 20 gallon long.

How many Julii Corys should be kept together?

At least 6. Social shoaling species; maintain in groups of 6 or more conspecifics.

What fish can live with a Julii Cory?

Species that passed every check include Neon Tetra, Cardinal Tetra, Harlequin Rasbora, Ember Tetra, Chili Rasbora, Celestial Pearl Danio.

Gear for a Julii Cory setup

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Related guides

Sources

Values come from these pages, in our own words. Status: verified. Last reviewed 2026-10-12.