Aquariumcatfish · freshwater
Peppered Cory: adult size, tank size & tankmates
The Peppered Cory (Corydoras paleatus) grows to about 3.3 in (7.1 cm SL). It needs a tank at least 24 inches long and about 18 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.
Needs special care. Subtropical fish routinely sold for warm tropical tanks; FishBase gives 18-23 C (64-73 F.
Will it fit your tank?
Quick facts
- Adult size
- 3.3 in (7.1 cm SL)
- Minimum tank
- 24 inches long and about 18 gallons
- Temperature
- 72–79°F
- pH
- 6–7
- Hardness
- 0–12 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
Peppered 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
- Neon TetraAdult ~1.4 in · 70–77°F
- Cardinal TetraAdult ~1.7 in · 73–84°F
- Harlequin RasboraAdult ~2.1 in · 70–82°F
- Ember TetraAdult ~0.9 in · 68–82°F
- Chili RasboraAdult ~0.9 in · 68–82°F
- Celestial Pearl DanioAdult ~1 in · 68–79°F
- Cherry BarbAdult ~2.4 in · 68–81°F
- Rummy-nose TetraAdult ~2.4 in · 73–79°F
- Black Neon TetraAdult ~1.7 in · 73–82°F
- Glowlight TetraAdult ~1.9 in · 75–82°F
Use caution
- Endler's LivebearerNeeds carePeppered Cory (0–12 dGH) and Endler's Livebearer (15–35 dGH) prefer different water hardness.
- AngelfishNeeds careAngelfish can bully smaller, peaceful Peppered Cory.
- Nerite SnailPeppered Cory (pH 6–7) and Nerite Snail (pH 8–8.4) prefer different pH.
- Mystery SnailPeppered Cory (pH 6–7) and Mystery Snail (pH unknown) prefer different pH.
- MollyNeeds carePeppered Cory (0–12 dGH) and Molly (15–30 dGH) prefer different water hardness.
- White Cloud Mountain MinnowNeeds carePeppered Cory and White Cloud Mountain Minnow only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window.
- Assassin SnailPeppered Cory (pH 6–7) and Assassin Snail (pH 7.5–8) prefer different pH.
- Blood Parrot CichlidOutgrows tanksBlood Parrot Cichlid can bully smaller, peaceful Peppered Cory.
Avoid
- German Blue RamNeeds carePeppered Cory (72–79°F) and German Blue Ram (81–86°F) need different temperatures.
- Boesemani RainbowfishPeppered Cory (72–79°F) and Boesemani Rainbowfish (81–86°F) need different temperatures.
- Chinese Algae EaterOutgrows tanksChinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Peppered Cory is peaceful.
- Convict CichlidNeeds careConvict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Peppered Cory is peaceful.
- Fancy GoldfishOutgrows tanksPeppered Cory (72–79°F) and Fancy Goldfish (50–70°F) need different temperatures.
- Iridescent SharkOutgrows tanksIridescent Shark eats small fish, and Peppered Cory only grows to about 3.3 in.
- OscarOutgrows tanksOscar eats small fish, and Peppered Cory only grows to about 3.3 in.
All 105 species we checked against the Peppered Cory
| Species | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| African Dwarf Frog | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Amano Shrimp | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bala Shark | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bamboo Shrimp | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Betta | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Black Neon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Black Skirt Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bleeding Heart Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bolivian Ram | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bristlenose Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bronze Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Buenos Aires Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bumblebee Goby | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cardinal Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Celestial Pearl Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cherry Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cherry Shrimp | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Chili Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Killifish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Common / Comet Goldfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Common Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Congo Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Crystal Red Shrimp | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Denison Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Diamond Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Dwarf Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Ember Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Ghost Shrimp | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Giant Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Glass Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Glowlight Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Gold Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Guppy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Harlequin Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Head-and-tail-light Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Hillstream Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Honey Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Japanese Trapdoor Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Julii Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Kribensis | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Kuhli Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Lambchop Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Lemon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Malaysian Trumpet Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Marbled Hatchetfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Moonlight Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Neon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Odessa Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Otocinclus | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Panda Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pea Puffer | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pearl Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pearl Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Penguin Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Platy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pristella Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pygmy Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Ramshorn Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Rosy Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Rummy-nose Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Scissortail Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Serpae Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Siamese Algae Eater | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Silver Hatchetfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Silver Tip Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Sparkling Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Sterbai Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Swordtail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Tiger Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Tinfoil Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Upside-down Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Weather Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Zebra Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Angelfish | Caution | Angelfish can bully smaller, peaceful Peppered Cory. |
| Assassin Snail | Caution | Peppered Cory (pH 6–7) and Assassin Snail (pH 7.5–8) prefer different pH. |
| Blood Parrot Cichlid | Caution | Blood Parrot Cichlid can bully smaller, peaceful Peppered Cory. |
| Discus | Caution | Peppered Cory and Discus only share 79–79°F. That's a tight window. |
| Electric Blue Acara | Caution | Electric Blue Acara can bully smaller, peaceful Peppered Cory. |
| Electric Yellow Lab | Caution | Peppered Cory (pH 6–7) and Electric Yellow Lab (pH 7.7–8.6) prefer different pH. |
| Endler's Livebearer | Caution | Peppered Cory (0–12 dGH) and Endler's Livebearer (15–35 dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| Firemouth Cichlid | Caution | Firemouth Cichlid can bully smaller, peaceful Peppered Cory. |
| Forktail Blue-eye | Caution | Peppered Cory (0–12 dGH) and Forktail Blue-eye (15–30 dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| Kissing Gourami | Caution | Kissing Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful Peppered Cory. |
| Molly | Caution | Peppered Cory (0–12 dGH) and Molly (15–30 dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| Mystery Snail | Caution | Peppered Cory (pH 6–7) and Mystery Snail (pH unknown) prefer different pH.; Peppered Cory (0–12 dGH) and Mystery Snail (unknown dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| Nerite Snail | Caution | Peppered Cory (pH 6–7) and Nerite Snail (pH 8–8.4) prefer different pH. |
| Paradise Fish | Caution | Peppered Cory and Paradise Fish only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window. |
| Pictus Catfish | Caution | Pictus Catfish can bully smaller, peaceful Peppered Cory. |
| Rainbow Shark | Caution | Rainbow Shark can bully smaller, peaceful Peppered Cory. |
| Red-Tail Shark | Caution | Red-Tail Shark can bully smaller, peaceful Peppered Cory. |
| Three-spot Gourami | Caution | Three-spot Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful Peppered Cory. |
| Variatus Platy | Caution | Peppered Cory (0–12 dGH) and Variatus Platy (14–30 dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| White Cloud Mountain Minnow | Caution | Peppered Cory and White Cloud Mountain Minnow only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window. |
| Yoyo Loach | Caution | Yoyo Loach can bully smaller, peaceful Peppered Cory. |
| Boesemani Rainbowfish | Avoid | Peppered Cory (72–79°F) and Boesemani Rainbowfish (81–86°F) need different temperatures. |
| Chinese Algae Eater | Avoid | Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Peppered Cory is peaceful. |
| Convict Cichlid | Avoid | Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Peppered Cory is peaceful. |
| Fancy Goldfish | Avoid | Peppered Cory (72–79°F) and Fancy Goldfish (50–70°F) need different temperatures. |
| German Blue Ram | Avoid | Peppered Cory (72–79°F) and German Blue Ram (81–86°F) need different temperatures. |
| Iridescent Shark | Avoid | Iridescent Shark eats small fish, and Peppered Cory only grows to about 3.3 in. |
| Oscar | Avoid | Oscar eats small fish, and Peppered Cory only grows to about 3.3 in. |
Care notes
Needs: Subtropical species - prefers cooler water than most tropical community fish; keep in a group with sinking foods.
Group: SF: does best kept in groups; number not stated; 6 editorial.
Temperament: peaceful toward other fish, peaceful toward its own kind. Lives in the bottom of the tank.
Common questions
How big does a Peppered Cory get?
About 3.3 inches (7.1 cm SL) as an adult, according to seriouslyfish.com.
What size tank does a Peppered Cory need?
At least 24 inches long and about 18 gallons. The smallest standard tank that meets that is a 20 gallon long.
How many Peppered Corys should be kept together?
At least 6. SF: does best kept in groups; number not stated; 6 editorial.
What fish can live with a Peppered Cory?
Species that passed every check include Neon Tetra, Cardinal Tetra, Harlequin Rasbora, Ember Tetra, Chili Rasbora, Celestial Pearl Danio.
Gear for a Peppered Cory setup
TankSmallest standard tank that meets its minimum: 20 gallon long (30 in long).Find on Amazon →HeaterAbout 100 W for 20 gallons, holding 72–79°F.Find on Amazon →SandSoft sand protects barbels and lets it sift.Find on Amazon →FoodSinking food reaches the bottom before tankmates grab it.Find on Amazon →Test kitCheck ammonia, nitrite and pH. Cycle the tank before adding fish.Find on Amazon →
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Related guides
Sources
Values come from these pages, in our own words. Status: researched from source pages. Last reviewed 2026-10-12.
- seriouslyfish.com /species/corydoras-paleatus/
- fishbase.se /summary/Corydoras-paleatus.html