Angelfish vs Pygmy Corydoras: can they live together?

A structured comparison of water overlap, adult size, social needs and behavioral risk.

avoid

Poor pairing in a typical community

Angelfish may view a much smaller Pygmy Corydoras as prey when fully grown.

Practical response: Use similarly sized robust tankmates.

Angelfish

Adult size
15 cm / 5.9 in
Tank reference
150+ L / 39.6+ US gal
Group
1+
Zone
mid
Temperature
24–30°C / 75.2–86°F

Pygmy Corydoras

Adult size
3 cm / 1.2 in
Tank reference
40+ L / 10.6+ US gal
Group
8+
Zone
bottom
Temperature
22–26°C / 71.6–78.8°F

Water parameter overlap

Temperature
24–26°C / 75.2–78.8°F shared range
pH
pH 6.0–7.5 shared range

Behavior and space

Tall-bodied cichlids that need vertical room and may prey on very small fish as they mature. Tiny social corys that use both lower and mid water and look best in larger groups.

A compatibility answer should also consider the actual tank dimensions, number of each fish, filtration, planting and other occupants. Two species can be reasonable together in a long, structured aquarium yet become a poor pairing when compressed into a small footprint.

Common questions

Can Angelfish live with Pygmy Corydoras?

The StockingLab verdict is avoid: Angelfish may view a much smaller Pygmy Corydoras as prey when fully grown.

Do their temperatures overlap?

24–26°C / 75.2–78.8°F shared range.

Should I trust compatibility calculators completely?

No. Individual behavior, sex ratios, breeding condition, aquascape and tank size can change the outcome. Use the result to identify risks, then verify care requirements before purchase.