Photo: User:Ark pl wiki (CC BY 3.0) — via Wikimedia Commons
Corydoras Catfish (Corydoras aeneus)
The aquarium's cheerful bottom crew — armored, peaceful little catfish that potter around the substrate in busy, social groups.
Will it live with a Corydoras Catfish?
We compare each fish against your corydoras catfish on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.
- Agassiz's Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 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.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Corydoras Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Agassiz's Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Banded Dwarf Cichlid✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °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.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Corydoras Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Betta✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 6.5 cm · Easy care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °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 Corydoras Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Black Skirt Tetra✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °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 Corydoras Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Black Skirt Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Blackline Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Corydoras Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Blackline Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Blood Red Tiger Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Medium care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °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 Corydoras Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Butterfly Hillstream Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Hard care · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–24 °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 Corydoras Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Celebes Rainbowfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7 cm · Medium 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 Corydoras Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Celebes Rainbowfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Costa's Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Corydoras Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Costa's Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Croaking Gourami✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Corydoras Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Desert Goby✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, 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 Corydoras Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Diamond Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Corydoras Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Diamond Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Eastern Betta✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Corydoras Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °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.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Corydoras Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Mahachai Betta✅ CompatibleAggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Peaceful + 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 Corydoras Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Peacock Gudgeon✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7 cm · Medium 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 Corydoras Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Peppered Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °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 Corydoras Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Peppered Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Rio Negro Checkerboard Cichlid✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7 cm · Hard care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–26 °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 Corydoras Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Roundtail Paradise Fish✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Easy care · 10–26 °C (50–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Corydoras Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Spotfin Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6.5 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 Corydoras Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Spotfin Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Spotted Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °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 Corydoras Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Spotted Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Sterbai Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6.5 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °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 Corydoras Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Sterbai Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Sumo Loach✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, 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 Corydoras Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °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.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Corydoras Catfish 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 Corydoras Catfish 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 Corydoras Catfish 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 Corydoras Catfish 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 Corydoras Catfish 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 Corydoras Catfish 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 Corydoras Catfish 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 Corydoras Catfish 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 Corydoras Catfish 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.
- Congo Tetra⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 8 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~120 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Corydoras Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Congo 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 Corydoras Catfish 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.
- Glass Catfish⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 8 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 Corydoras Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Glass Catfish in a shoal of 6+ 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 Corydoras Catfish 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.
- Pantanal Corydoras⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 8 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~110 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Corydoras Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Pantanal 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 Corydoras Catfish 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.
- Scissortail Rasbora⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 8 cm · Easy care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~90 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Corydoras Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Scissortail Rasbora 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 Corydoras Catfish 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 (Corydoras Catfish 22–26 °C vs Discus 28–31 °C).
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~200 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Corydoras Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Discus in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- German Blue Ram⛔ Not recommendedPeaceful · 6 cm · Hard care · 27–30 °C (81–86 °F)
- Temperature needs don't overlap (Corydoras Catfish 22–26 °C vs German Blue Ram 27–30 °C).
- Keep Corydoras Catfish 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.
Corydoras Catfish care specs
- Care level
- Easy
- Breeding
- Medium
- Max size
- 6.5 cm (2.6 in)
- Min tank size
- 54 L (14.3 gal)
- Temperature
- 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- pH
- 6–7.8
- Hardness
- 2–12 dGH
- Lifespan
- 5–10 years
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Group size
- 6+ (shoaling)
- Family
- Callichthyidae
- Origin
- Streams and floodplains of South America (widespread, including the Río de la Plata basin)
What is a Corydoras Catfish?
The corydoras catfish — known to most hobbyists simply as “cories” — are small, armoured bottom-dwellers that have earned a permanent place in community aquariums worldwide. The bronze cory (Corydoras aeneus) is the most widely kept species of the enormous Corydoras genus, which contains over 170 described species, but their care needs are broadly representative of the whole group.
What makes cories so enduringly popular is a combination of traits that few fish match: they are peaceful, hardy, sociable and genuinely interesting to watch. They trundle along the substrate in tight little groups, tilting at odd angles to pick through sand with sensitive barbels, occasionally rocketing to the surface to gulp air — a normal behaviour made possible by a modest ability to absorb oxygen through the hindgut. Bronze cories reach about 6.5 cm (2.6 in) and are plated in a distinctive metallic bronze-green sheen, though albino and black morphs are equally common in the trade.
Where do Corydoras Catfish come from?
Corydoras aeneus is one of the most widespread corydoras species in South America, native to slow-moving streams, seasonal floodplains, ditches and river margins across the continent, with a particularly strong presence in the Río de la Plata basin spanning parts of Venezuela, Trinidad, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina.
In the wild, bronze cories inhabit shallow, warm water with a soft muddy or sandy bottom, abundant leaf litter and dense marginal vegetation. The water is typically soft to moderately hard and slightly acidic to neutral. Seasonal floods regularly connect habitats and dilute the water, which partly explains the species’ tolerance for a fairly wide range of water chemistry. Understanding this origin points directly to the ideal tank setup: soft substrate, gentle flow, some cover, and warm but not tropical water.
What Size Tank Does a Corydoras Catfish Need?
The practical minimum for a group of six corydoras is 54 litres (approximately 14 gallons). A longer, shallower footprint is always preferred over a tall column — cories live and forage at the bottom and get far more use out of horizontal swimming space than height.
For a mixed community with corydoras as the bottom layer, a 75–100 L (20–26 gal) tank gives everyone comfortable room. Keep the current moderate rather than strong; cories come from slow water and heavy flow can stress them, though some turnover is important for oxygenation. A well-established, planted tank with soft lighting suits them best. Dense planting, driftwood and leaf litter help them feel secure and will encourage more bold, visible behaviour.
What Water Parameters Do Corydoras Catfish Need?
- Temperature: 22–26 °C (72–79 °F). Bronze cories are comfortable at the cooler end of the tropical range, which makes them compatible with a wide range of community fish.
- pH: 6.0–7.8 — a broad, forgiving range.
- Hardness: 2–12 dGH, soft to moderately hard.
Stability is the priority. A cycled tank with weekly water changes of around 25–30% will keep parameters steady and the fish healthy. Avoid drastic temperature swings; cories are sturdier than many fish, but prolonged cold below 20 °C (68 °F) or heat above 28 °C (82 °F) will cause stress and increase susceptibility to disease.
What Do Corydoras Catfish Eat?
Corydoras are omnivores that naturally scavenge the substrate for organic debris, invertebrates and plant matter. In the aquarium, the foundation of their diet should be quality sinking pellets or wafers — food that reaches the bottom before other fish consume it. Supplement with occasional treats of frozen or live foods: bloodworms, daphnia, brine shrimp and tubifex are all accepted with enthusiasm and improve condition and colour.
A common mistake is assuming cories will survive on scraps that drift down from feeding other fish. They will not thrive that way. Target-feed them at least once daily — feeding at lights-out is a good strategy, as it reduces competition and aligns with their more active evening and nighttime habits. Remove uneaten food after a few hours to avoid fouling the substrate.
Are Corydoras Catfish Aggressive — and What Fish Can Live with Them?
Corydoras are thoroughly peaceful and present no threat to any similarly sized or larger fish. They ignore mid- and top-water tankmates entirely, restricting their activity to the bottom zone. Within their own group they are actively social — a shoal of six or more will travel together, rest in a pile and display much more confident, visible behaviour than a lonely individual pressed into a corner.
This makes them near-universal community fish. Classic companions include tetras, rasboras, livebearers, dwarf cichlids, small loaches and even bettas. The main rule is to avoid any fish large enough to eat a 6.5 cm (2.6 in) catfish, or aggressive cichlids that may harass bottom-dwellers. Avoid cohabiting with fish that require very different water parameters — particularly fish needing warmer temperatures above 28 °C (82 °F), which is beyond the comfortable range for cories.
For a full list of compatible and incompatible pairings, see Corydoras Catfish tank mates.
How Do You Tell Male and Female Corydoras Catfish Apart?
Sexual dimorphism in corydoras is subtle and most obvious when viewed from above or head-on. Females are noticeably larger and, crucially, broader across the body — the deeper belly is especially pronounced in ripe, gravid females. From above, a female appears significantly wider than a male of the same length.
Males are slimmer and slightly smaller. In a group of six or more, size and body width differences usually become apparent once the fish are mature, around 8–12 months of age. Ventral-view comparisons also reveal the female’s more rounded abdomen. In well-fed, mature groups, females are the noticeably rounder individuals.
How Do Corydoras Catfish Breed?
Bronze cories breed using a distinctive “T-position”: the female presses her mouth against the male’s vent to take a mouthful of sperm, which she then uses to fertilise eggs she holds cupped between her pelvic fins. She deposits small batches of sticky eggs on plants, glass, and tank decor before repeating the process. A conditioning phase of high-quality live or frozen foods, followed by a water change with slightly cooler water to simulate the rainy season, often triggers spawning in healthy adults.
For deliberate breeding, move a conditioned group to a dedicated breeding tank with Java moss or spawning mops. Remove the adults after spawning, as they will eat the eggs. Eggs hatch in 3–5 days at 24 °C (75 °F); fry should be started on infusoria or finely crushed powder food, transitioning to baby brine shrimp as they grow. We rate the overall process medium difficulty — spawning is easy to trigger, but raising fry successfully requires some preparation.
What Are Common Corydoras Catfish Diseases?
The most common health issue in corydoras is barbel erosion or loss — the sensitive whisker-like feelers around the mouth wear down or become infected when kept on sharp gravel or in poor water quality. This is almost entirely preventable with a fine sand substrate and clean water. Once lost, barbels may or may not regrow, and a fish that cannot sense food properly will have difficulty feeding.
Red blotch disease (red patches on the body or fins) is a bacterial condition linked to poor water quality and overcrowding. Ich (white spot) and fungal infections are opportunistic and typically follow stress or a period of cold or unstable water. Columnaris can appear as white patches or fraying fins, again almost always tied to water quality issues.
Prevention is straightforward: soft substrate, a cycled and maintained tank, avoid overstocking, and quarantine new fish before introducing them. The vast majority of disease problems in cories are solved by improving the substrate and the water before anything else.
Health note: symptom identification and medication dosing are beyond the scope of a care profile. For a sick fish, confirm the diagnosis against a reputable veterinary or aquatic health source before medicating.
How Long Do Corydoras Catfish Live?
Well-kept bronze cories live 5–10 years, which is impressive for a fish of their size. The wide range reflects the difference between a fish in a stable, well-maintained tank with a proper diet and a fish kept in less-than-ideal conditions. Many hobbyists report cories in the 7–8 year range under good care, and some exceed a decade. Give them the basics — soft sand, clean water, a shoal of six or more, and sinking food every day — and they will be a fixture in your tank for years.
Frequently asked questions
Do corydoras need to be in groups?
Yes — keep at least six. Cories are social, and a good-sized group is far more active, confident and fun to watch than a lone fish.
Do corydoras clean the tank?
They scavenge leftover food from the substrate, but they are not a clean-up substitute. Give them their own sinking food and keep a soft, smooth substrate so they don't damage their barbels.
What you need to keep a corydoras catfish
The baseline is a heated, filtered 54 L+ tank: a reliable heater to hold 22–26 °C (72–79 °F), a gentle filter that won't batter a corydoras catfish in the current, and a tight-fitting lid. Cycle the tank fully before adding any fish.
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