Types of Corydoras Catfish

The Bronze Corydoras (Corydoras aeneus) is popular with fish keepers. It shows a bronze-green metallic shine that ranges from light tan to deeper bronze. They're one of the most widely distributed corydoras species in nature, found across much of South America.

These small, peaceful catfish live at the bottom of the tank and grow to 5-7 cm (2-2.75 inches). This size works well in many community tank setups.

Corydoras aeneus adapts to different water conditions, but does best in soft to moderately hard water with pH from 6.0 to 7.5. As social fish, keep them in groups of at least five or six to encourage schooling and reduce stress.

The right substrate matters for Bronze Corydoras. Their barbels (sensory organs near their mouth) can get damaged by sharp or rough materials. Fine sand or smooth, rounded gravel works best for their natural sifting without causing harm.

These omnivores eat various sinking foods, including pellets and wafers. While they'll pick up leftover food, don't rely on them as just cleaners, they need their own food to stay healthy.

They're one of the few fish species that has been taken to space. They traveled aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1996.

The Peppered Corydoras (Corydoras paleatus) is also popular in the fish hobby. It has a light gray to greenish-gray body with dark, pepper-like spots that give it its name. They've been bred to produce several color variants, including albino and gold varieties. These fish stay small, growing to 5-7 cm (2-2.75 inches) in length.

They're one of the first corydoras species to be kept in aquariums, dating back to the 1930s. They're named after famous aquarist Dr. Günther Sterba, who contributed greatly to aquarium science.

Like other corydoras, the Peppered Corydoras is a social bottom-dweller that needs groups of five or more fish. They spend their time searching the substrate for food, which helps keep the tank clean.

Peppered Corydoras adapt well to tanks with temperatures from 22-26°C (72-79°F) and moderate water hardness with neutral to slightly acidic pH. Their peaceful nature makes them good for community tanks with other calm fish.

These omnivores need a mixed diet including high-quality sinking pellets, wafers, and tablets made for bottom-dwelling fish.

These catfish help keep your substrate tidy, but who handles the other cleaning jobs? Find out in our complete guide to aquarium maintenance helpers.

The Sterba's Corydoras (Corydoras sterbai) is known for its black body covered in small white to gold spots, creating a starry night appearance. The fish has a unique color pattern with orange to red fins that contrast with its dark body.

These catfish grow to about 6-7 cm (2.4-2.8 inches) in length. They come from the Rio Guaporé basin in Bolivia and Brazil, where they live in warm, soft water environments.

Sterba's Corydoras prefer higher temperatures than most corydoras species, thriving in ranges of 24-28°C (75-82°F). This makes them good tankmates for other tropical fish that need warmer water. Keep the water slightly acidic to neutral (pH 6.0-7.2) with soft to medium hardness.

They're social fish that should be kept in groups of six or more to feel secure and display natural behaviors.

Feed them a mix of high-quality sinking pellets and wafers along with frozen and live foods like bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia. They'll search the bottom for food, but need direct feeding to maintain good health.

Originating from Peru, the Panda Corydoras (Corydoras panda) is easy to recognize by its distinctive panda-like coloration. Reaching a maximum length of 5 to 6 centimeters (2 to 2.4 inches), they fit well in small to medium-sized aquariums. Their distinctive black eye patches and "saddle" develop as they mature, young fish don't show the full panda pattern.

This species reacts more to water quality changes than other corydoras. They need clean tank conditions with regular water changes. They like cooler water between 20 and 24 degrees Celsius (68 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit).

Panda Corydoras are peaceful, social catfish that do best in groups of at least six fish. This grouping reduces stress. They need soft, fine substrate to protect their barbels, and enjoy hiding spots from plants, driftwood, or smooth rocks.

For good health and bright colors, add frozen or live foods to their diet, such as bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia.

They were only discovered in 1968 and quickly became one of the most popular aquarium corydoras.

Pygmy Corydoras (Corydoras pygmaeus) are tiny fish that grow to just 2.5 cm (1 inch). They have long, slim bodies with silvery-gray coloring and a black line running from their gills to tail. They're among the smallest of all corydoras species and one of the smallest catfish in the world.

Unlike most corydoras that stay at the bottom, these small catfish often swim in the middle of the tank. This makes them more visible and active to watch. They can change their coloration based on mood, substrate color, and lighting conditions.

They fit well in nano tanks and small setups where bigger corydoras would look too large. Their calm nature makes them good tankmates for other small, peaceful fish.

Pygmy Corydoras need to live in groups of at least 10 fish. In these groups, they show natural shoaling behaviors and feel safer. Larger groups look even better as they swim together through the tank. They have a unique schooling behavior where they form tight, coordinated groups that move as one unit.

Feed them small foods like micropellets, crushed flakes, and tiny live or frozen foods such as baby brine shrimp, daphnia, and microworms. Small, frequent meals work better than one big feeding because of their tiny size.

The Splashed Corydoras or Salt and Pepper Cory (Corydoras habrosus) is a dwarf species that grows to 3-4 cm (1.2-1.6 inches). They have a light beige to pale golden body with dark brown spots and markings that create a speckled look. These small catfish come from blackwater streams and flooded areas in Venezuela and Colombia.

They work well in small and nano tanks where you can watch their behaviors up close. They prefer soft, slightly acidic water (pH 6.0-7.0) and need fine sand substrate to protect their barbels when they search for food. They have a unique hunting technique where they use their barbels to detect food buried in sand, then perform a quick "dive" to extract it.

These fish are very peaceful and should be kept in groups of 8-10. Unlike some dwarf corydoras that swim in the middle of the tank, these tend to stay near the bottom.

Planning a community tank with your Corydoras? Discover perfect tankmate options that include some of the aquarium hobby's most vibrant swimmers.

Adolfo's Corydoras (Corydoras adolfoi) has a white to cream body with a black stripe from the snout through the eye and along the dorsal fin. The bright orange to red patch on top of their head makes them popular with fish keepers. These catfish grow to 5-6 cm (2-2.4 inches). They were discovered in 1982 and named after aquarist and fish collector Adolfo Schwartz.

They come from blackwater streams in the Rio Negro basin in Brazil. They need soft, acidic water (pH 5.5-6.8), dim lighting, and places to hide. Sand substrate and leaf litter work best for them.

Keep at least six Adolfo's Corydoras together. In groups, they feel safer, show natural behaviors, and become more active. Interestingly, they perform complex "T-position" breeding behaviors where females pick up sperm in their mouths to fertilize eggs.

Leopard Corydoras (Corydoras julii) are known in the aquarium hobby world by their dark spots and lines on a light silver-gray body. Their leopard-like pattern gives them their common name. Each fish has a unique spot pattern, like a fingerprint, that can be used to identify individuals. These fish grow to 5-6 cm (2-2.4 inches) and come from coastal rivers in eastern Brazil.

These active catfish do well in tanks with soft, fine substrate that won't hurt their barbels when they search for food. Add live plants, driftwood, and hiding spots to copy their natural habitat. They like moderate water flow.

Keep the water slightly acidic to neutral (pH 6.0-7.0) with soft to moderate hardness. They have specially modified intestines that allow them to extract oxygen directly from swallowed air.

These peaceful fish need groups of at least six to reduce stress and promote schooling. They're one of the rarest true corydoras in the hobby, with most fish labeled as julii actually being misidentified.

The Three-lined Corydoras (Corydoras trilineatus) has a silvery body with three distinctive dark lines running along its sides, the source of its common name. These catfish grow to about 5-6 cm (2-2.4 inches) and are native to river systems across Peru and Brazil.

Hardy and adaptable, they make excellent additions for both beginners and experienced fishkeepers. While they tolerate various conditions, they do best in tanks with soft to medium substrate that won't damage their sensitive barbels. Interestingly, they have special cells in their skin that can detect minor changes in water pressure and quality.

Like most corydoras, they're peaceful, social fish that should be kept in groups of at least six. In proper groups, they become noticeably more active and exhibit more natural behaviors. They can use their pectoral fin spines to make audible clicking sounds to communicate with each other.

Dwarf Corydoras (Corydoras hastatus) only grow to about 3 cm (1.2 inches), making them one of the smallest cory catfish species. They have silvery bodies with a black spot near the tail and come from slow-moving waters in Brazil, Argentina, and Bolivia. They have a unique "winking" behavior where they rotate their eyes independently.

These mini catfish work well in smaller aquariums with plants, where they need soft, slightly acidic water (pH 6.0-7.0) and moderate lighting. Unlike most corydoras that stick to the bottom, these little ones often swim in the middle of the tank. They can breathe air from the water surface using specialized intestinal blood vessels when oxygen levels are low.

They're highly social fish, so keep them in groups of at least 8-10. For feeding, they do best with small, frequent meals of micropellets, crushed flakes, or tiny live foods like baby brine shrimp and daphnia.

Their size means they can struggle to compete for food with larger fish, so make sure they're getting enough to eat by offering multiple small feedings rather than one large one.

These peaceful aquarium catfish won't hurt a fly, but what about their wild relatives? Discover if catfish can pose a threat to humans in this other article.

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