Corydoras Care Guide

Corydoras catfish are among the most popular and useful freshwater fish in the hobby. Peaceful, active, and genuinely helpful as bottom cleaners, Cories are a perfect addition to community tanks. Here’s how to keep them thriving.

Species Overview

There are over 160 described species of Corydoras. The most commonly kept include:

• Bronze Cory (C. aeneus) — hardy and beginner-friendly
• Albino Cory — a color variant of bronze; equally hardy
• Panda Cory (C. panda) — striking black-and-white markings
• Peppered Cory (C. paleatus) — great for cooler tanks
• Pygmy Cory (C. pygmaeus) — stays very small; mid-water schooler

Tank Requirements

• Minimum tank size: 20 gallons for a school of 6
• Substrate: fine sand is essential — gravel damages their sensitive barbels
• Temperature: 22–26°C (72–79°F)
• pH: 6.0–7.5
• Keep in groups of 6 or more — they are social and stressed when kept alone

Feeding

Corydoras are omnivores and scavengers. Feed:

• Sinking wafers or pellets (primary diet)
• Frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, or daphnia
• Bottom-feeding tablets

Do not rely on them to “clean up” leftover food — this leads to poor water quality and malnutrition.

Tank Mates

Corydoras are peaceful and compatible with nearly any non-aggressive fish. Excellent companions include tetras, rasboras, livebearers, and Bettas. Avoid aggressive cichlids or large predatory fish.

Health & Common Issues

• Barbel erosion: caused by coarse substrate or poor water quality
• Red blotch disease: bacterial infection, often linked to stress or injury
• Ich: treat with elevated temperature and medication

Note: Corydoras are sensitive to salt — avoid salt treatments.

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