Photo: Frank M Greco, CC BY 3.0 — via Wikimedia Commons
Bandit Corydoras (Corydoras melini)
A striking little catfish with a bold black eye-mask and tail stripe — a peaceful, sociable bottom-dweller for community tanks.
Will it live with a Bandit Corydoras?
We compare each fish against your bandit corydoras on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.
- Axelrod's Cory✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Axelrod's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Blue Turbo Snail✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 cm · Medium care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 25–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Checkered Barb✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–25 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Checkered Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Cherry Barb✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Cherry Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Chocolate Gourami✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 cm · Hard care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Chocolate Gourami in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Cochu's Blue Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Cochu's Blue Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Firehead Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Firehead Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Five-banded Barb✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Five-banded Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Forktail Blue-eye✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Forktail Blue-eye in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Half-striped Penguin Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Half-striped Penguin Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Harlequin Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Harlequin Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Honey Gourami✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Horseman Cory✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Horseman Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Japanese Trapdoor Snail✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 10–28 °C (50–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Julii Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 23–26 °C (73–79 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Julii Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Masked Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Masked Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Mystery Snail✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Panda Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Panda Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Rummy-nose Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 cm · Medium care · 23–29 °C (73–84 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Rummy-nose Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Silvertip Tetra✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 5 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Silvertip Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Skunk Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Skunk Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Spotfin Betta✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 5 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Stoliczka's Barb✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Stoliczka's Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Wine Red Betta✅ CompatibleAggressive · 5 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Peaceful + Aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- African Butterfly Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 8 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Amano Shrimp⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 5 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
- Bandit Corydoras may eat Amano Shrimp or pick off its shrimplets — a densely planted tank with moss gives them a fighting chance.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Amazon Puffer⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 8 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~120 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Amazon Puffer in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Ash Lipped Apisto⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Hard care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Black Ruby Barb⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~100 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Black Ruby Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Bleeding Heart Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Bleeding Heart Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Bright Diamond Tetra⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 7 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Bright Diamond Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Buenos Aires Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Buenos Aires Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Colombian Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6.5 cm · Easy care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~114 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Colombian Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Dwarf Chain Loach⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 6 cm · Medium care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Dwarf Chain Loach in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Ghost Shrimp⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
- Adult Ghost Shrimp might survive with Bandit Corydoras, but expect the young to be eaten — plant heavily.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Humpbacked Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 5 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Humpbacked Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Melon Barb⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Melon Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Morse Code Corydoras⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 5 cm · Medium care · 23–26 °C (73–79 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Morse Code Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Rounded Filament Barb⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 7 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Rounded Filament Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Tiger Barb⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~95 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Tiger Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Discus⛔ Not recommendedPeaceful · 20 cm · Hard care · 28–31 °C (82–88 °F)
- Temperature needs don't overlap (Bandit Corydoras 22–27 °C vs Discus 28–31 °C).
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~200 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Bandit Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Discus in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
Compatibility is computed from each species' care data — a strong starting point, not a guarantee. Individual temperament varies, so always introduce new fish slowly and watch them.
Bandit Corydoras care specs
- Care level
- Easy
- Breeding
- Hard
- Max size
- 5 cm (2 in)
- Min tank size
- 60 L (15.9 gal)
- Temperature
- 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- pH
- 6–7.5
- Hardness
- 2–15 dGH
- Lifespan
- 3–5 years
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Group size
- 6+ (shoaling)
- Family
- Callichthyidae
- Origin
- South America — Colombia and upper Rio Negro basin in Brazil
What is a Bandit Corydoras?
The Bandit Corydoras (Corydoras melini) is a small, peaceful armoured catfish from northern South America, instantly recognisable by two bold black markings on a pale beige-gold body: a wide eye-mask running through both eyes and a thick stripe sweeping from the dorsal fin down to cover the tail — giving the fish its masked-bandit look. Adults reach about 5 cm (2 in), fitting comfortably in nano and community tanks alike.
Like all corydoras, C. melini carries rows of bony scutes rather than scales, and its pectoral fins are mildly venomous — handle carefully and never use a dry net. A school forages actively across the substrate all day and will occasionally dart to the surface to gulp air, a normal feature of their intestinal air-breathing, not a sign of oxygen trouble.
Where do Bandit Corydoras come from?
Bandit Corydoras are native to the upper Rio Negro basin in Brazil and northwestern Colombia. Their habitat is soft, warm blackwater: slow rivers and leaf-littered stream margins stained amber with tannins, where hardness is extremely low and pH can dip well below neutral.
This origin has direct care implications. They thrive in soft, slightly acidic to neutral water (pH 6.0–7.5, 2–15 dGH) and do poorly long-term in hard or alkaline conditions. Their natural substrate is fine silt and leaf litter, which is why a smooth sand bottom is strongly recommended to protect their sensitive foraging barbels.
What size tank does a Bandit Corydoras need?
The minimum for a group of six is 60 litres (16 gallons). Because corydoras never leave the bottom zone, tank footprint matters more than raw volume — a long, shallow design with generous floor space serves them far better than a tall column of the same capacity. Aim for at least 60 cm (24 in) of length.
Substrate should be fine, smooth sand. Rounded driftwood, smooth stones and broad-leaved plants like Anubias provide resting spots and cover. Filtration should be thorough but produce gentle flow — a sponge filter or spray-bar directed along the back glass prevents unnecessary buffeting of small fish.
What water parameters do Bandit Corydoras need?
- Temperature: 22–27 °C (72–81 °F). Mid-range values around 24–25 °C suit long-term health best.
- pH: 6.0–7.5 — slightly acidic to neutral is ideal.
- Hardness: 2–15 dGH. Softer is better; they tolerate moderate hardness but are not suited to hard alkaline water.
- Ammonia / Nitrite: 0 ppm. Run a fully cycled tank before introducing fish.
Weekly partial water changes of 25–30 % maintain stability. Adding dried Indian almond leaves or tannin-leaching driftwood brings the chemistry closer to their blackwater origin and often produces bolder behaviour.
What do Bandit Corydoras eat?
Bandit Corydoras are omnivores that forage along the substrate. They accept a wide variety of foods:
- Sinking pellets and wafers — a quality catfish sinking pellet or corydoras wafer forms the staple.
- Frozen foods — bloodworms, daphnia, brine shrimp and tubifex are eagerly taken and help condition fish for breeding.
- Live foods — small worms or micro-crustaceans stimulate natural foraging.
Feed once or twice daily — only what they clean up in a few minutes. Scatter food across several spots so all fish in the group get access. A fasting day once a week is beneficial. Uneaten food left in the sand degrades water quality quickly.
Are Bandit Corydoras peaceful — and what fish can live with them?
Bandit Corydoras are thoroughly peaceful and one of the easiest community fish to house. They occupy only the bottom zone and pose no threat to any tank-mate. Their bony scutes and venomous pectoral spines provide passive defence.
Compatible choices include small tetras (ember, cardinal, neon), rasboras, Apistogramma dwarf cichlids and other peaceful corydoras. Avoid aggressive or large cichlids, fin-nippers, and species requiring hard alkaline water. The most important compatibility factor is their own group: fewer than six individuals produces chronic stress and hiding.
For a full breakdown of compatible and incompatible species, see Bandit Corydoras tank mates.
How do you tell a male Bandit Corydoras from a female?
Sexing is straightforward once fish reach adulthood at around 9–12 months, and a group of six or more gives enough individuals to compare.
Females are visibly broader and more rounded when viewed from above, especially when gravid; the extra width across the midsection is the clearest indicator. Males are slimmer and more streamlined. Neither sex shows colour differences — both carry the same pale gold body with black eye-mask and dorsal stripe. Juveniles are essentially impossible to sex reliably by eye.
How do Bandit Corydoras breed?
Breeding C. melini is rated Hard and requires deliberate effort. Condition males and females separately for two to three weeks on live or frozen foods, then trigger spawning with a partial water change using slightly cooler water — mimicking seasonal rainfall. Repeat over several days if needed.
During spawning the female clasps fertilised eggs between her cupped ventral fins and presses them to glass, plant leaves or flat stones. A successful clutch numbers 50–200 eggs. Remove adults after spawning to prevent egg predation. Eggs hatch in roughly 3–5 days; fry require infusoria or commercial first foods before graduating to micro-worms. Keep water very clean — fry are sensitive to ammonia spikes.
What diseases affect Bandit Corydoras?
- Barbel erosion — barbels shorten or disappear, caused by rough gravel substrate, poor water quality or bacterial infection. Sand and clean water prevent it.
- Ich (white spot) — white cysts triggered by temperature drops or infected new arrivals. A two-to-four-week quarantine for all new fish prevents introduction.
- Red blotch / bacterial infections — reddening of the belly or fin bases, associated with water quality failures. Fix water conditions and increase water-change frequency.
- Internal parasites — hollow belly despite feeding, more common in wild-caught fish. Quarantine new arrivals and observe before adding them to a display tank.
Prevention for all of these comes down to sand substrate, stable soft water in the correct temperature range, and a consistent quarantine protocol.
Health note: diagnosis and medication dosing are beyond the scope of a care profile. For fish showing abnormal symptoms, consult a reputable veterinary or fish-health source before treating.
How long do Bandit Corydoras live?
With good care, Bandit Corydoras live 3–5 years. The upper end of that range is realistic when the fundamentals hold: a sand-bottomed, cycled tank; soft, stable water at 22–27 °C (72–81 °F); a social group of at least six; and a varied, nutritious diet. Juveniles offer the best chance at the full lifespan; wild-caught adults may arrive stressed or carrying parasites and benefit from careful quarantine and conditioning before joining a display tank.
Frequently asked questions
How many Bandit Corydoras should I keep together?
Keep a minimum of six — they are a schooling species and show natural behaviour, foraging confidence and brighter colour only when kept in a group. A lone cory will spend most of its time hiding and will be visibly stressed.
Is Corydoras melini the same as Corydoras metae?
No — they look very similar and are both called "bandit cory" in the trade, which causes confusion. Corydoras metae (Bandit cory from the Rio Meta) has a slightly wider black stripe and a different origin. Corydoras melini comes from the upper Rio Negro and Colombia. Both are valid, distinct species.
What you need to keep a bandit corydoras
The baseline is a heated, filtered 60 L+ tank: a reliable heater to hold 22–27 °C (72–81 °F), a gentle filter that won't batter a bandit corydoras in the current, and a tight-fitting lid. Cycle the tank fully before adding any fish.
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