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Corydoras Catfish

By The Aquarium Calculators Editorial Team ·

Corydoras aeneus

Complete Corydoras Catfish care guide covering omnivore diet requirements, peaceful temperament, minimum 15 Gallons tank setup, and compatible freshwater tankmates. Difficulty: Easy.

Corydoras Catfish

Quick Answer

Corydoras Catfish are small, armored freshwater catfish native to South American rivers. It requires a minimum 15 Gallons aquarium with a pH of 6.5 - 7.5 and temperature range of 22-26°C. This omnivore occupies the bottom zone and makes an excellent addition to community setups.

Intro

Corydoras Catfish are small, armored freshwater catfish native to South American rivers. Famous for their gentle, hyperactive bottom-dwelling behavior, they spend their days searching the substrate for food leftovers, helping to keep the aquarium clean.

Setup

Corydoras have delicate sensory barbels (whiskers) used to forage. Therefore, they MUST be kept on a smooth sand substrate rather than sharp gravel, which can erode their barbels. They need a tank of at least 15 gallons with low-to-medium currents.

Feeding

Corydoras are bottom-dwelling omnivores. They do not just eat waste; they require dedicated feeding. Sinking catfish pellets, wafer flakes, and frozen foods like bloodworms or tubifex worms are excellent choices.

Compatibility

Corydoras are highly social and MUST be kept in schools of at least 6 of the same species to feel safe. They are incredibly peaceful and can be housed with any peaceful mid-water or top-water species.

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Tank Position
Bottom
Water Temp
22-26°C
Adult Size
See profile
Water pH
6.5 - 7.5

Species Characteristics

Adult Size
Lifespan
Growth Rate
moderate
Tank Compatibility
Community compatible
Indoor Aquarium
Yes

Water Parameters

Water Temperature
Humidity
Water pH

Tank Lighting

Tank Lighting
Standard lighting
Light Hours
N/A
Intensity
moderate

Feeding & Diet

Diet Type
Diet: Omnivore
Feeding Schedule
N/A
Live Food Options
N/A

Continue Learning

Recommended Tools

Fish Compatibility Calculator fish compatibility

Health & Disease

Ich (White Spot Disease) common disease • all fish

Related Guides

Understanding pH in Aquariums water parameters • ph

Similar Species

African Red Eyed Tetra Care Guide: Schooling & Tank Size semanticSimilarity Apistogramma Care Guide: Temperament & Diet semanticSimilarity Banded Corydoras Care Guide: Substrate & Diet semanticSimilarity

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Corydoras should be kept together?
Maintain a minimum group of 6 of the same species in a tank with a footprint of 24x12 inches (60x30 cm) and volume of 20 gallons (75 liters). Corydoras are highly social bottom dwellers; groups under 4 cause chronic stress, hiding, and shortened lifespan. A school of 8-10 displays natural shoaling behavior and active bottom foraging. Provide a fine sand substrate (depth 1-2 inches/2.5-5 cm); sharp gravel damages their sensitive barbels. Keep one species per group; mixing species reduces social bonding. Tank length must exceed 24 inches (60 cm) to allow foraging.
What are the exact water parameters for Corydoras?
Target pH 6.0 - 7.5 (species-dependent), General Hardness 2 - 12 dGH, Carbonate Hardness 2 - 8 dKH, Total Dissolved Solids 80 - 250 ppm, Electrical Conductivity 160 - 500 μS/cm, and temperature 72°F - 78°F (22°C - 26°C). Most species prefer soft, slightly acidic water. Maintain nitrates below 15 ppm with weekly 25% water changes. Use a sponge filter or gentle HOB; strong currents stress them. Sand substrate is mandatory; gravel causes barbel erosion. Add driftwood and leaf litter. Avoid salt (tolerance <2 ppt). Sudden pH drops >0.3 cause shock.
What is the dietary and medication protocol for Corydoras?
They are benthic omnivores requiring 35% protein, 10% fat, 55% plant matter. Feed sinking catfish pellets, shrimp wafers, live blackworms, frozen bloodworms, and daphnia daily. Ensure food reaches the bottom; surface leftovers cause starvation. Offer blanched zucchini and spirulina wafers weekly. Medication alert: Extremely sensitive to copper (0.1 mg/L lethal) and formalin. Scaleless; use malachite green at quarter dose (0.025 mg/L). Praziquantel is safe. Avoid salt (tolerance <2 ppt). Quarantine with metronidazole at half-strength. Treat ich with herbal remedies (Herbtana).
How to breed Corydoras with environmental triggers?
Condition a group of 6-8 with live blackworms and bloodworms for 2 weeks. Simulate dry season: Lower water level to 5 inches (12 cm) for 7 days. Trigger breeding: Perform 50% water change with cool (68°F/20°C) RO water (pH 6.5, 2 dGH) over 2 hours, mimicking heavy rain. Increase aeration. The female adopts a 'T-position' and lays 100-300 adhesive eggs on glass, plants, or mops. Remove parents after spawning. Eggs hatch in 3-5 days at 75°F (24°C). Fry feed on infusoria for 3 days, then microworms, then baby brine shrimp after day 7.

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