Can Abei Puffer and Bearded Cory Live Together?

Abei Puffer is a highly aggressive species (9/10), while Bearded Cory is peaceful (2/10). This notable difference means Abei Puffer may occasionally assert dominance over Bearded Cory.

Large aggression gap (7 points) between Abei Puffer and Bearded Cory increases stress risk for the more peaceful fish.

Abei Puffer and Bearded Cory both frequent the Bottom (Substrate) region of the setup. This overlap can increase competition for space, so providing ample room and cover is important to keep both species comfortable.

There is no temperature overlap between Abei Puffer (24–28°C) and Bearded Cory (16–23°C). This fundamental mismatch makes long-term cohabitation impractical.

Both fish can tolerate a pH between 6 and 7.4. Maintaining a stable value within this band is more important than hitting an exact number.

For general hardness, the shared comfort zone is 5–12 dGH. Regular testing will ensure conditions stay within this range.

To house Abei Puffer and Bearded Cory together, plan for an aquarium of at least 114 litres with a minimum length of 90 cm. This recommendation combines the stricter species minimums with a community-load allowance so the pairing has realistic long-term space and filtration headroom.

Providing a mix of open swimming space and sheltered areas with rocks, driftwood, or plants will keep both species comfortable and allow natural behaviour.

Specific environmental needs for this combination include: Sand (Sifters), Driftwood (Digestion/Hiding), Plants - Densely covered. Meeting these requirements will help both species thrive.

Both species do well with low (still water) water movement, so a standard filtration setup rated for the tank volume should suffice.