Will Different Types Of Cory Catfish School Together? (Explained!)

There are different types of cory catfish like the albino corys, panda corys, pygmy corys, peppered corys, and the list goes on.

With so much variety available, as a fishkeeper, you are often tempted to keep different types of cory catfish in the same tank instead of one species. But does it really work well? Let’s figure that out in this post.

Will Different Types Of Cory Catfish School Together?

Different types of cory catfish can school together though they generally prefer more of their own kind. However, since cory catfish are calm and social fish, keeping different species together shouldn’t be a problem if adequate tank conditions are maintained.

Cory catfish usually prefer schooling together with the ones of the same type. 

In the wild, cory catfish of the same species are found in groups of twenty to even hundreds in number.

Although grouping different types of cory catfish can work, the social interaction may not be as effective as you could get from a group of the same type.

That said, cory catfish are quite social; and happier when in a group of at least two or more. 

Having multiple cory catfish together is necessary for corys to be happy in their environment. 

“Therefore, mixing different types of cory catfish together in an aquarium as opposed to only having one or two is actually the best way to approach having these fish at home.”

It doesn’t matter what kinds of cory catfish you mix together; different species will often end up schooling together. 

And even if they don’t school much, at least they won’t harm each other thanks to their peaceful temperament. So why not try it; if you are lucky, the combination should work well.

An ideal tank setup for your cory catfish will include a few cory catfish at minimum, a couple of snails, and some non-bottom dweller-compatible fish.

But be aware of the aquarium size you’d like to have before you make your final decision regarding the fish you will bring home.

How Many Kinds Of Cory Catfish Are There?

You can find over 170 recognized species of Corydoras Catfish, and over 100 of them are yet to be assigned a scientific name. 

However, here are some of the cory catfish you will likely hear about in the hobby.

Cory Catfish Type:	Quick Overview:
Albino Cory	Pure pink-white fish with bright red eyes
Bronze Cory	Yellow or pinkish body and fins, but white bellies
Pygmy Cory	Silvery body with dark black and green spots
Panda Cory	Gold colored with black patches over fins and eyes
Peppered Cory	Olive or tan body and it shimmers with an iridescent green in the light
Emerald Cory	Deep green body and pinkish lower portion
Bandit Cory	Silver in color and easily recognized by the black mask over their eyes

How Many Cory Catfish Should You Have?

The amount of cory catfish in your tank or aquarium should correlate to how large your aquarium is. 

I have written detailed articles on cory catfish tank-size requirements and how many corys you can keep together. So I highly recommend you to read them to learn more.

But in short, you should keep at least six or more cory catfish together. And roughly, you can keep 2-4 cory catfish in a 10-gallon tank.

Another important thing to consider is that cory catfish are bottom-dwelling fish. They spend a lot of time either hiding or digging the substrate for leftovers. So it is good to have at least 2 inches of fine sand as a substrate for the corys. 

You want your cory catfish to have spaces to hide away so they can rest or get some peace and quiet when needed.

Be sure the substrate is soft, so your cory catfish don’t get hurt.

I recommend having a fine sand substrate in your cory tank like this one – The Landen Namale Aquarium Sand (available on Amazon).

The Cory Catfish Temperament:

As long as cory catfish have space to swim and some food they can pick off of the bottom of the aquarium, they tend to be very happy fish. 

These fish also like to be social and aren’t fans of being kept as solitary fish or the only cory catfish in the tank. 

Even though cory catfish are known to be lively fish that enjoy swimming around and interacting with tankmates, they are gentle little fish. As a result, having them housed with a fish known to be either aggressive, territorial, or combative is not ideal. 

What Types Of Fish Are Good Tankmates For Cory Catfish?

Cory catfish tend to be lively during the day and are considered bottom feeders.

Outside of other types of cory catfish, there are several fish that can get along well with cory catfish in an appropriately sized tank, including: 

• Neon tetras
• Platys
• Swordtails
• Fancy guppies
• Honey gouramis
• Mollies
• Angelfish

As with any combination of fish, your aim should be to pair fish together that enjoy the same type of aquarium conditions, from temperature to substrate to decorations and plants. Be sure you have at least a few cory catfish in an aquarium with any of the abovementioned fish. 

How To Care For Cory Catfish?

Cory catfish are a relatively simple fish to care for in an aquarium. If these fish have food to look for at the bottom of the tank and space to swim around, they tend to be quite content. 

It is also important to provide them with the necessary water conditions and monitor them properly.

pH	5.5-7.0
Temperature	70-78°F
Hardness	5–10 dGH

Cory cats are found in slow-moving, shallow streams in their natural habitat. 

Their natural habitat is also partially shaded by overhead foliage. So to mimic their natural habitat, you can add plants to their tank. Some suitable plants for corys include Amazon Swords, Crypts, and Penny Warts.

Read: Do Cory Catfish Eat Plants?

Final Thoughts 

In short, different types of cory catfish will mix and school together in an aquarium. But ensure the tank is big enough to house them and provide the right conditions to thrive.

And if they don’t mix well, there is no major concern as they are not aggressive fish that harm each other. Try, test, and see what works out for you. So that’s it; I hope this guide helps you to make the right decision. Please share this article and pin it if you found it helpful. Thanks!