Top 12 Corydoras Catfish Species to Enhance Your Aquarium

Key Takeaways

Corydoras catfish are peaceable, bottom-dwelling scavengers that thrive in small colleges.
They’re simple to look after and assist in retaining the tank clear however shouldn’t be stored with massive aggressive fish.
Well-liked species embody Bandit Cory, Bronze Cory, Julii Cory, Panda Cory, and a number of other others, every with distinctive traits.

Corydoras catfish, generally often known as cory catfish, are liked by aquarists for his or her peaceable nature. They’re hardy, enticing, and energetic fish that may assist hold your tank clear. [Insert paragraph break here] Corys thrive in teams, and a lone cory can turn into lonely. They need to be housed with small to medium-sized peaceable fish.

What Is a Cory?

A cory is a catfish. They’re small, peaceable, bottom-dwelling scavengers. There are 161 cory species. Usually, these education fish require no less than a 10-gallon tank with a tropical temperature. They’re simple to look after in a tank on their very own or with different species.

Corys, like all catfish, are backside feeders and scavengers, although in addition they get pleasure from brine shrimp. They assist hold your tank clear by consuming leftover meals and particles, however they will additionally fire up the substrate, spreading algae and muck. [Insert paragraph break here] Whereas corys are helpful as a part of a tank’s “clean-up crew,” they want help from snails, shrimp, and different scavengers.

Listed below are 12 common cory catfish species you could add to your tank.

Illustration showing the different cory catfish species for your aquarium

Bandit Cory

Species Overview

Scientific identify: Corydoras metae

Grownup dimension: 2 inches (5 cm)

Lifespan: 5 years

Minimal tank dimension: 10 gallon

pH: 6.5–7.0

Hardness: 5–10 levels dGH

Temperature: 72–79 levels F (22–26 levels C)

Tankmates: Peaceable education species

Bandit corys have been within the aquarium commerce for a very long time and are one of many extra common members of this household. They’re simply identifiable by the black masks over the eyes. Bandits are extra delicate to variations in water temperature than another species.
Bronze Cory

Species Overview

Scientific identify: Corydoras aeneus

Often known as: Inexperienced Corydoras

Grownup dimension: 2.5 inches (6 cm)

Lifespan: 5 years

Minimal tank dimension: 10 gallon

pH: 5.8–7.0

Hardness: 2–30 levels dGH

Temperature: 72–79 levels F (22–26 levels C)

Tankmates: Peaceable education fish

Like pepper corys, bronze corys are extremely popular and available all over the place. These two species of corys are fingers down probably the most generally stored members of this household. Bronze corys can be found in a number of colour morphs, together with inexperienced, bronze, albino, and black. They do properly in a spread of circumstances however ought to be stored in colleges.
Julii Cory

Species Overview

Scientific identify: Corydoras julii

Grownup dimension: 2.5 inches (6 cm)

Lifespan: 5+ years

Minimal tank dimension: 10 gallon

pH: 6.5–7.8

Hardness: to twenty levels dGH

Temperature: 73–79 levels F (23–26 levels C)

Tankmates: Peaceable bottom-dwelling education fish

Though this species could also be seen on the market in pet retailers, it hardly ever is the true McCoy. As an alternative, what’s labeled as a julii is its kissing cousin the three stripe cory. True julis have spots which can be typically not related into lengthy chains, as they’re within the three stripe cory.
Panda Cory

Species Overview

Scientific identify: Corydoras panda

Often known as: Panda Catfish, Panda Corydoras

Grownup dimension: 2 inches (5 cm)

Lifespan: 10+ years

Minimal tank dimension: 10 gallon

pH: 6.0–7.0

Hardness: 2–12 levels dGH

Temperature: 68–77 levels F (20–25 levels C)

Tankmates: Peaceable, suitable with all species, hold in colleges

Panda corys are extremely social and will all the time be stored in colleges of their very own variety. They get together with nearly all different peaceable species and have been identified to highschool together with different bottom-dwelling species. Pandas desire cooler temps and are appropriate for unheated aquariums. You can even search for the longfin panda cory so as to add selection to your tank.

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Pepper Cory

Species Overview

Scientific identify: Corydoras paleatus

Often known as: Blue Leopard Corydoras, Peppered Catfish, Peppered Cory

Grownup dimension: Males–2.5 inches (6.5 cm), Females–3 inches (7.5 cm)

Lifespan: 5 years

Minimal tank dimension: 15 gallon

pH: 6.0–7.0

Hardness: to 12 levels dGH

Temperature: 72–78 levels F (22–26 levels C)

Tankmates: Peaceable, greatest stored in colleges with different smaller fish

Pepper corys are maybe probably the most generally stored member of this household and are broadly accessible at pet retailers all over the place. They’re peaceable and get together with nearly all fish, however shouldn’t be stored with massive aggressive species.
Skunk Cory

Species Overview

Scientific identify: Corydoras arcuatus

Grownup dimension: 2 inches (5 cm)

Lifespan: 5 years

Minimal tank dimension: 10 gallon

pH: 6.8–7.5

Hardness: 2–25 levels dGH

Temperature: 72–79°F (22–26 levels C)

Tankmates: Peaceable, enjoys a big faculty

Skunk corys are extra delicate to elevated ammonia and nitrates than different species. Because of this, they don’t seem to be really helpful for a model new aquarium. As an alternative, wait till the tank is matured earlier than including this species.
Three Stripe Cory

Species Overview

Scientific identify: Corydoras trilineatus

Grownup dimension: 2.5 inches (6 cm)

Lifespan: 10 years

Minimal tank dimension: 10 gallon

pH: 5.8–7.2

Hardness: to 18 levels dGH

Temperature: 72–78 levels F (22–26 levels C)

Tankmates: Peaceable, hold in small colleges

The three stripe cory is available in most pet retailers, however could also be a julii Cory. Three stripe corys may be distinguished by the spots on the pinnacle which can be related in a lengthy string, giving them a maze-like look.
Sterbai Cory

Species Overview

Scientific identify: Corydoras sterbai

Often known as: Sterba’s Cory

Grownup dimension: 2.5 inches (6 cm)

Lifespan: 15-20 years

Minimal tank dimension: 10 gallon

pH: 6.0-7.6

Hardness: to fifteen levels dGH

Temperature: 73–82 levels F (23–28 levels C)

Tankmates: Peaceable, hold in small colleges and with fish which can be related in dimension

Sterbai cory are simple to look after like different corys, and might get alongside properly with quite a lot of different fish species. Their colour ranges from darkish brown to black however they’ve white dots throughout their physique and fins in order that they’re positive to seize your consideration as they swim alongside the underside of your tank.

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Pygmy Corydoras

Species Overview

Scientific identify: Corydoras pygmaeus

Often known as: Pygmy Catfish

Grownup dimension: 1 inch (2.54 cm)

Lifespan: 3 years

Minimal tank dimension: 8 gallon

pH: 6.4-7.5

Hardness: 6-10 levels dGH

Temperature: 72–79 levels F (22–26 levels C)

Tankmates: Peaceable, hold in colleges and with out massive fish that may view them as prey

Pygmy corys are smaller than different species, rising solely to about 1 inch in size, so they could be a sensible choice if in case you have a smaller aquarium. They’re additionally totally different from different corys in that they may swim in the course of the tank, not simply on the underside. They do greatest in colleges of six or extra fish.
Albino Corydoras

Species Overview

Scientific identify: Corydoras aeneus

Often known as: Albino Cory Catfish

Grownup dimension: 2.5 inches (6.5 cm)

Lifespan: 5 years

Minimal tank dimension: 20 gallon

pH: 5.5-7.5

Hardness: to fifteen levels dGH

Temperature: 70–81 levels F (21–27 levels C)

Tankmates: Peaceable, hold in colleges

In contrast to different corys which have putting colours and patterns, the albino cory is pale, starting from pink to white. They’re simple to look after and hardy, in order that they’re good for freshmen, and these small fish are peaceable to allow them to stay in a tank with varied different fish species.
Barbatus Cory

Species Overview

Scientific identify: Scleromystax barbatus

Often known as: Bearded Cory, Banded Cory

Grownup dimension: 4 inches (10 cm)

Lifespan: 5 years

Minimal tank dimension: 30 gallon

pH: 6.0-8.0

Hardness: 2-25 levels dGH

Temperature: 68–82 levels F (20–28 levels C)

Tankmates: Peaceable, hold in colleges

The barbatus cory is among the bigger cory species, in order that they require an even bigger tank. Additionally, like different corys, they’re peaceable and do greatest in colleges. Hold them with bigger shrimp, as they may eat small ones. Males have extra distinct markings and longer pectoral fins than females.
Orange Laser Cory

Species Overview

Scientific identify: Corydoras sp. “orange laser”

Often known as: Orange Stripe Cory

Grownup dimension: 2.5 inches (6.35 cm)

Lifespan: 4 years

Minimal tank dimension: 30 gallon

pH: 6.0-7.5

Hardness: 2-12 levels dGH

Temperature: 76–80 levels F (24–27 levels C)

Tankmates: Peaceable, hold in colleges

The orange laser cory is brightly coloured, that includes an orange stripe that makes them stand out towards different fish in your tank. That is additionally one of many best fish to look after as a result of they don’t have difficult necessities. And, like different corys, they’re a wonderful selection for a group tank.

FAQ

What do cory catfish eat?

Corys like to eat brine shrimp, algae wafers, fish pellets, algae pellets, freshwater vegetation, and greens.

How large do cory catfish get?

Cory catfish develop to be about 1 inch to 2.5 inches lengthy.

How lengthy do cory catfish stay?

Corys have a lifespan from 5 to 10 years.

What number of cory catfish can you set in a 10-gallon tank?

Between two and 4. Every cory requires about one gallon of water, which is a components you may remember as you add fish to your tank.

What number of cory catfish ought to be stored collectively?

Corys are fish that desire residing in teams. As a common rule, hold no less than six corys in your tank.

Do cory catfish hold the tank clear?

Sure, corys may help hold your tank clear as a result of they’re scavengers that search for meals on the backside of the tank. Nevertheless, you continue to must feed them and usually clear your tank.

What are cory catfish good for?

Corys are an ideal selection for fish house owners of all expertise ranges. They assist hold your tank clear, they’re peaceable, and they’re enjoyable to look at.

11 Chilly Water Fish Species Excellent for Your Freshwater Aquarium

Key Takeaways

What Is a Cory?

Bandit Cory

Species Overview

Bronze Cory

Species Overview

Julii Cory

Species Overview

Panda Cory

Species Overview

Pepper Cory

Species Overview

Skunk Cory

Species Overview

Three Stripe Cory

Species Overview

Sterbai Cory

Species Overview

Pygmy Corydoras

Species Overview

Albino Corydoras

Species Overview

Barbatus Cory

Species Overview

Orange Laser Cory

Species Overview

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