Can Pygmy Cory live with Cardinal Shrimp?
Caution — with care
Why
- Almost no shared temperature: Pygmy Cory wants 72–79°F and Cardinal Shrimp wants 79–84°F, so only 79°F suits both — too fine a margin to actually hold.
- Only a narrow pH overlap — keep both around 7.5–7.5.
Sweet spot: both do well at 79–79°F and pH 7.5–7.5 — aim there.
Side-by-side
| Pygmy Cory | Cardinal Shrimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 72–79°F | 79–84°F |
| pH | 6–7.5 | 7.5–8.5 |
| Hardness (GH) | 2–12 dGH | 8–18 dGH |
| Adult size | 1" | 0.8" |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Peaceful |
| Min tank | 10 gal | 15 gal |
Together, plan on at least 15 gallons.
How to make it work
- Keep a large, established shrimp colony in a heavily planted tank with moss and cover so enough survive to breed.
- Target the overlapping water-parameter range and acclimate slowly.
Sort it with: An adjustable heater
Design the whole tank, not just the stocking
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Design a tank with Pygmy Cory, Cardinal Shrimp →Everything compatible with Pygmy Cory · …with Cardinal Shrimp