Cory catfish are peaceful creatures who prefer swimming and interacting with other fish in a community tank. However, it becomes difficult to find their companion when it comes to betta fish because of their aggressive nature.
So, Can cory catfish live with bettas? Let us find out.
Cory catfish can live with betta fish as they have similar water conditions and parameters requirements. Bettas will remain at the top of the tank, and cory catfish will be at the bottom most of the time. They will not come in each other ways and will live peacefully.
This article will discuss whether cory catfish and betta fish live together. Also, we will discuss the minimum tank size requirement for keeping cory catfish and bettas together.
Contents
- 1 Can I keep betta fish with my cory catfish?
- 2 Cory catfish and bettas temperament.
- 3 What are the ideal water parameters requirement of cory catfish and bettas?
- 4 What are the ideal water conditions required for cory catfish and bettas?
- 5 What are the ideal dietary needs of cory catfish and bettas?
- 6 What is the minimum tank size requirement for keeping both the fish together?
- 7 Conclusion:
Can I keep betta fish with my cory catfish?
We must consider many things when planning to add new fish to our home aquarium.
We have to see the compatibility and ensure that both of them will live peacefully with each other.
The water parameters and conditions requirement should be similar for both the fish for their comfortable and stress-free living.
We also have to look for their temperament and should avoid adding any aggressive fish with a peaceful fish.
However, when it comes to keeping cory catfish and betta fish together, it is completely possible, and there will be no issue in keeping them both together.
Betta fish are aggressive fish, but they will not harm your cory catfish as cory catfish will remain at the bottom of the tank and will not come in your betta fish’s way.
Also, cory catfish are simple-looking fish that will not attract betta fish towards them.
They have similar water parameters and conditions requirements, and we can set the parameters in which they both will thrive.
Let us briefly discuss the temperaments, water parameters and conditions requirement, and their ideal dietary needs.
Also read: Can Cory Catfish Live With Neon Tetras?
Cory catfish and bettas temperament.
When planning to make a community fish tank by adding different types of fish, it is necessary to know about their temperaments.
So, let us discuss the temperaments of both the fishes.
Cory catfish temperament:
Cory catfish are peaceful fish and love to live and interact with other fish in a community tank.
They will not even fight back against the aggressive fish and will keep hiding and running from them.
They are social fish and love to swim with other fishes.
Also, cory catfish are schooling fish and prefer to live in a large group of their species.
Also read: Are Cory Catfish Aggressive?
Betta fish temperament
Bettas are known to be aggressive fish. Therefore, it becomes quite difficult to decide which fish we can plan to add to your betta fish tank because of their aggressive nature.
However, bettas will not at all disturb or harass them when it comes to corydoras.
Corydoras are peaceful bottom dwellers fish that spend most of their time searching for food on the bottom of the tank.
Also, they are very simple fish that will not attract the betta’s eyes.
Betta fish will usually swim at the top and middle of the tank, and corydoras will remain at the bottom for most of them. So they will not interact with each other mostly.
Betta fish’s aggressive nature will not harm your corydoras.
So, you can keep bettas and corydoras together when looking at their temperament.
However, there are many other things to consider when planning to add some fish to your corydoras tank.
Water parameters are the most necessary compatibility to look for when adding fish to your cory catfish tank.
What are the ideal water parameters requirement of cory catfish and bettas?
Knowing the water parameters required of a fish when planning to add them to your home tank is necessary.
Cory catfish ideal water parameters:
Cory catfish require a water temperature between 70-82 °F.
The water pH requirement of a cory catfish is between 7 and 8.
Water TDS should be between 400-600ppm.
The water hardness should be between 5 and 19dGH.
Also read: Ideal pH Level For Cory Catfish?
| Particulars | Cory Catfish | Betta Fish |
|---|---|---|
| Water Temperature | Between 70-82 °F | Between 75-80 °F |
| Water pH level | Between 7 and 8 | 7 |
| Water TDS level | Between 400-600ppm | Between 300-500ppm |
| Water Hardness | Between 5 and 19 dGH | Between 5 and 20 dGH |
Betta fish ideal water parameters:
Betta fish require a water temperature between 75-80 °F.
The water pH requirement of a cory catfish is between 7 and 8.
Water TDS should be between 300-600ppm.
The water hardness should be between 5 and 20dGH.
Looking at both of their ideal water parameters requirement, we can see that cory catfish and betta fish can live together as they share almost the same water parameters.
To keep them together, ensure to maintain your tank parameters as follows:
- Water temperature between 75-80 °F.
- The water pH level of 7
- Water TDS levels between 400-500
- Water hardness is between 5 and 19
What are the ideal water conditions required for cory catfish and bettas?
Cory catfish and betta fish are both freshwater fish and prefer to live in clean water conditions.
However, cory catfish are hardy fish and can live in a wide range of water conditions.
They both are sensitive to ammonia and nitrite. Even a slight amount of ammonia and nitrite can make them sick, and they will come under stress.
The nitrate level for both the fish should not be more than 20ppm.
| Particulars | Cory Catfish | Betta Fish |
|---|---|---|
| Water condition | Clean water condition | Clean water condition |
| Ammonia | 0ppm | 0ppm |
| Nitrite | 0ppm | 0ppm |
| Nitrate | Below 20ppm | Below 20ppm |
We recommend using the API freshwater master test kit to regularly check your tank’s ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH level as it shows accurate results.
You can buy it from amazon: API FRESHWATER MASTER TEST KIT.
Perform a weekly water change of at least 35% to keep the water clean.
Ensure to treat the water with a water conditioner to dechlorinate it.
We recommend using the API water conditioner to treat the water as it will help you eliminate chlorine, chloramine, ammonia, nitrite, and heavy metals from the water.
You can buy this product on amazon: API TAP WATER CONDITIONER.
Consider adding a good filtration system with biofilter media to protect the water from harmful toxins like ammonia and nitrite.
It is very necessary to keep the ammonia and nitrite at 0ppm.
An ammonia spike can burn your fish body, skin, and gills, making them suffer swimming, and they will go through a lot of pain.
Also read: Can Cory Catfish Live In Brackish Water?
What are the ideal dietary needs of cory catfish and bettas?
Food plays an important role in keeping our fish healthy and ensuring their faster growth and development.
Feeding food to all our fish regularly and adequately is necessary to ensure their good health.
When we create a community tank, it becomes harder for us to ensure that all our fish is getting the right amount of food.
Let us first discuss the dietary needs of both the fish, and then we will discuss how we can feed them both adequately.
| Cory catfish – betta Food | Serving Quantity | No Of Times (Cory Catfish) | No Of Times (Betta fish) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloodworms | One small pinch | 1-2 times a week | 1-2 times a week |
| Brine shrimp | One small pinch | 1-2 times a week | 1-2 times a week |
| Veggie pellets | One small pinch | No | No |
| Flake food | One small pinch | 1-2 times a day | No |
| Tubifex Worms | One small pinch | 1 time a week | 1 time a week |
| Algae wafers | One small pinch | 1 time a day | No |
| Mosquito larvae | 10-15 pieces | 2-3 times a week | 2-3 times a week |
| Blanched zucchini | One small slice | 1-2 times a week | No |
| Blanched cucumber | One small piece | 1-2 times a week | No |
| Boiled peas | One pea per fish | 1-2 times a week | No |
| Betta pellets | One small pinch | No | 1-2 times a day |
| Betta flakes | One small pinch | No | 1-2 times a day |
Cory catfish ideal dietary needs:
Cory catfish are omnivore fish species and require both meat and plant matter food in their daily diet to fulfill their ideal nutritional requirement.
You should feed them complex food that contains both meat-based nutrition and plant-based nutrition.
They are bottom dwellers and spend most of their scavenging on the bottom, searching for food.
They feed on food leftovers, decayed plants, and small dead fish from the bottom of the tank.
However, we should not let our cory catfish rely on those waste and should feed them with high-quality nutritional food.
Feed them with bloodworms, tubifex worms, mosquito larvae, algae wafers, brine shrimp, sinking flakes and pellets, and blanched vegetables like zucchini and cucumber.
You can feed them live, frozen, and freeze-dried food too.
Feed them in quantity they can finish in one to two minutes to avoid overfeeding.
Also read: How Often To Feed Cory Catfish?
Betta fish ideal dietary needs:
Betta fish are carnivore fish and require meat-based food in their daily diet to fulfill their dietary needs.
You can feed them with betta pellets and flakes once or twice a day.
They will also love to feed on live foods like bloodworms, mosquito larvae, brine shrimp, and tubifex worms.
Don’t feed them any vegetables as they are carnivores, and vegetables will not provide them with any beneficial nutrients.
You can feed them freeze-dried or frozen food if not being able to provide live food.
Now to ensure that both your fish get their food adequately, consider feeding your bettas first with betta flakes or pellets, and when they start eating, add cory catfish sinking pellets, flakes, or algae wafers.
Your betta will be too busy eating their food and will not be interested in your cory catfish food.
This way, you can feed them both easily, and it will ensure that both of your fish are getting their food without interacting.
Also read: Can Cory Catfish Eat Betta Food?
What is the minimum tank size requirement for keeping both the fish together?
When it comes to deciding the tank size to keep the fish, we should follow the one-inch one-gallon rule, which means one inch of fish per gallon of water.
Cory catfish can be as long as 4 inches in size, with an average of 2-2.5 inches, depending on the species.
Also, they are schooling fish and prefer to live in a large group of their species.
You should keep at least 5-6 cory catfish together to form a good school for them.
At least a 20-gallon tank will be necessary for your cory catfish.
Betta fish don’t require much space, and a 10-gallon space will be enough for them.
Some of the space will be covered by plants, decors, and substrates.
So, a 30-gallon tank will be the minimum tank size requirement to keep cory catfish and betta fish together.
Also read: How Many Cory Catfish In A 10 Gallon Tank?
Conclusion:
You can keep cory catfish and betta fish together.
They have similar water parameters and conditions requirements.
Betta fish is aggressive in nature, but it is not an issue here as your betta will not harm your cory catfish.
Cory catfish will remain at the bottom of the tank most of the time, and betta will swim at the top.
Also, cory catfish are simple-looking fish that will not attract your betta towards them.