Corydoras

Corydoras spp.

Armoured catfish that sift sand with their whiskers and occasionally wink at you. Happiest in groups.

A peaceful freshwater fish that grows to 5.5 cm, lives near the bottom in groups of 4 or more and needs 21–27 °C, pH 6.0–7.8 and an aquarium of at least 40 L.

Care at a glance

Water

Freshwater

Temperature

21–27 °C (70–81 °F)

pH

6.0–7.8

Adult size

5.5 cm (2.2 in)

Aquarium

40 L or bigger (11 US gal)

Temperament

Peaceful

Group size

4 or more

Swims

Bottom

Diet

Omnivore

Wild home

South American streams

Good to know

• Hardy. Tolerates less-than-perfect water. Great for beginners.
• Armoured. Covered in bony plates or spines – too spiky for most fish to swallow.

Tank mates

Good company: Black Skirt Tetra, Bloodfin Tetra, Cardinal Tetra, Cherry Barb, Chili Rasbora, Dwarf Gourami, Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish, Ember Tetra, Endler's Livebearer, Fancy Goldfish.

Eaten by: Asian Arowana, Flowerhorn, Frontosa, Jack Dempsey, Motoro Stingray, Ornate Bichir, Oscar, Siamese Tigerfish.

Attacked by: Black Ghost Knifefish, Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid, Demasoni Cichlid, Flowerhorn, German Blue Ram, Jack Dempsey, Kribensis, Red-Tailed Black Shark, Sunshine Peacock Cichlid.

Eats the newborn fry of: Chili Rasbora, Crystal Red Shrimp, Ember Tetra, Ghost Shrimp, Neocaridina Shrimp.

Its fry are eaten by: Angelfish, Axolotl, Bala Shark, Betta, Black Ghost Knifefish, Boesemani Rainbowfish, Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid, Comet Goldfish, Congo Tetra, Discus, Dwarf Gourami, Electric Blue Acara and 11 more.

Colours and breeding

• Bronze common
• Panda common
• Sterbai uncommon
• Albino common
• Green Laser rare

In Aquarius a grown male and female breed in a healthy tank. Their young are born about 0.4 cm long and take after one of the parents.

Some pairs give a colour neither parent has:

• Bronze × Panda can give Sterbai

The care values are the ones Aquarius uses, based on how these animals live. Tank mates follow the game's rules: water type, temperature and pH, who can swallow whom, fin nipping, temperament and territory.