10 Awesome Cory Catfish Types for Your Fish Tank: (+Why Corys are Best)

Cory catfish or corydoras is a peaceful group of tropical freshwater fish. They are extremely popular because of their unique characteristics. They are easy to grow as well as adopt a variety of water conditions. Most importantly, they leave the tank cleaner as a bottom dweller fish. There are different types of cory catfish available in the market. In this article, we will discuss the top ten awesome cory catfish types for your fish tank.

10 Awesome Cory Catfish for Your Fish Tank

1. Julii Cory (Corydoras julii)

Corydoras julii also known as the

Julii Cory is one of the most attractive cory catfish among the market. They are different from similar cory catfish by the fine ‘spotted’ pattern along with their black mark on the dorsal fin. This small catfish is native to Brazil and sometimes confused with Corydoras trilineatus. 

Julii cory are one of the smallest fish of the entire Cory family. They will grow up to 2-3 inches of long-only. They’re peaceful and make a good combination with other fishes in a community tank. You have to keep your Julii corys in a minimum of 20 gallons tank.

These tanks don’t need to be heavily planted, but plants will give a cover with a sense of security. So, you can add floating plants 

when your tank is brightly lighted. 

Julie storeys are omnivores in nature and they eat sunken food at the bottom of the fish tank.Therefore you can provide them sinking pellets or flake food in the aquarium. Bloodworms are their favourite food, for that reason you can also give them frozen blood worms.

2. Three Stripe Cory (corydoras trilineatus)

The three-stripe cory (Corydoras trilineatus) is another small cory catfish that is almost similar as the julii cory. They have spotted bodies as well as a black spot on the dorsal fin like the julii cory. For that reason, sometimes they are called false julii cory. But, the dissimilarity is, they don’t haven’t any connected finer sports on their head.

This small catfish originated in South America and is also found in Brazil and Colombia. They will grow up to 2.5 inches and tolerate tropical climate water. This water pH should be 6.0–8.0 and the temperature range should be 72–79 °F (22–26 °C). You have to keep your three-stripe cory in at least 10 gallons of tank. These tanks have a lot of hiding spaces as similar as other cory catfish species. Some open spaces will also give these small fish more comfort. You can provide them with sinking pellets or frozen blood worms in the aquarium in case of diet. Finally, when you don’t find a real julii cory, you can consider adding a three-stripe cory in your aquarium.

3. Panda Corydoras (Corydoras panda)

Panda Corydoras are also known as their scientific name Corydoras panda. They are beautiful for their black patches and earn the name “panda” because of these patches covering their eyes. This attractive fish arrives from larger rivers in South America.

Panda cory will grow up to 2.5 inches as well as peaceful with other bottom dwellers fish. They will make an excellent combination with small to medium-sized fish in the community tank. You can keep your cory panda in a minimum 10 gallons of tank. But bigger tanks 

(20-30 gallon tank) will always work best because of their energetic properties. These aquarium water should be slightly acidic to neutral (pH 6 – 7).

Always remember that panda cory requires quality water with zero salts, so you can add a filtration system to maintain water change regularly. These tanks also need to be well-planted with a lot of hiding spaces that give relief from the light. 

Panda cory are omnivores like all other corys, so you can feed them with live or frozen meaty food. They’re especially fond of brine shrimp, blood worm types frozen food.  Therefore, give enough food to make sure that they will reach the bottom of the tank.

4. Pygmy Corydoras (Corydoras pygmaeus)

If you are looking for tiny types of cory catfish for a smaller tank, then the pygmy (dwarf) corydoras is preferable for you. This small catfish originated in South America and is also found in Brazil. They are particularly popular for small bodies with black and green spots.

The pygmy corydoras are one of the smaller fish of the entire cory family. The size of adult pygmy corydoras are typically 0.75-1.0 inches, but they can reach at the maximum length of 1.3 inches. They’re completely peaceful and make good combinations with other smaller fish. You can keep the pygmy corydoras with similar sized fish in a community tank. A 10-gallon fish tank

will be enough as there’s sufficient space of surface area. You have to maintain the water temperature range of 72–79 °F and pH range of 6.0–8.0.

One of the major differences between pygmy corydoras with others is that they’re not entirely live in the bottom layer of the fish tank. They are mid to bottom-dwelling fish, so their food will primarily come from this area.

So, sinking pellets types of food will work for the pygmy corydoras best. They are also loving brine shrimp, blood worms such frozen food.  

5. Bronze Corydoras (Corydoras aeneus)

Bronze corydoras is another popular cory catfish for your fish tank. This corydoras species is widely bred in large quantities around the world. It originated in South America and is also found in Colombia.

This tropical freshwater fish has a pink or yellow body with white belly and blue-grey back and head. It also has pink or yellow immaculate fins.

Like many types of cory catfish, the female fish are larger than the males. In Particular, females have a higher body frame with larger abdominal region than males. Bronze corydoras are social and pretty peaceful too, so you can keep them with other corydoras species. You have to maintain your bronze corydoras in a minimum 20 gallons of tank. But they are a little shy, so make a set of hiding spaces using plants and driftwood. Bronze corydoras are usually fed on insects and worms in an aquarium. Flakes or pellets as well as frozen food will also be high-quality feed for your corydoras.

6. Emerald Corydoras (Corydoras splendens)

Emerald Corydoras is an interesting fish with iridescent green body on the lower parts of their body. They are also called as green cory or emerald catfish as well known as their scientific name Corydoras splendens. This fish is originally from the Amazon Basin in South America. 

The green cory is one of the most popular freshwater aquarium fish amongst market. They are peaceful and maintained under the similar conditions as all cory catfish. Green cory will make an excellent combination with other fish in a community tank. They will grow up to 3.5 inches, so you can keep your green cory in a minimum 20-30 gallons of tank. These aquarium water temperature should be 68°F to 82°F and recommended is neutral pH (5.8 – 8.0). Usually, green corys are come out during the daylight. So, they are used to normal light in the aquarium. 

Emerald Corydoras are omnivores so they feed all kinds of live and frozen foods. You can give them flake food or sinking pellet 

every day, as well as offer them algae wafers

and frozen brine shrimp, bloodworms to maintain a balanced diet.

7. Bandit Corydoras (Corydoras metae)

Bandit Corydoras have had commercial importance in the aquarium trade industry for a long time. It is named after the fish was first found in the Orinoco River in Colombia. This fish is also known as masked corydoras due to black mask over its eyes. 

This peaceful fish will be an addition for your community tank. It can grow on a small scale up to 2 inches in length. So, any 10-gallon fish tank is sufficient for them to provide the best environment. You can add plants as well as driftwood to give them hiding places. 

About the feed, give your fish with flake food or sinking pellets as an everyday meal. Again, blood worms and brine shrimp-like meaty foods deliver them as a treat.

8. Skunk Corydoras (Corydoras arcuatus)

Skunk corydoras is also known by its scientific name “Corydoras arcuatus”.

The word arcuatus means “bowed” and indicates the black bow-shaped band from its mouth to tail fin. This makes it different from all other cory catfish from our list. Most skunk corydoras sold in the market are commercially bred now, but the wild is originally found in South America. 

Skunk Corydoras are peaceful freshwater social fish. So, they are suited to community tanks with other peaceful fish due to their nature. It mixes well with middle to upper fish because they live at the bottom. Skunk corydoras always like tropical temperatures of 72°F to 79°F. Slightly acidic to slightly alkaline water (pH 6.0 – 7.5) should be better. Moreover, they require clear water with water circulation and sufficient oxygen as well. They do best in a planted tank with driftwood that gives the fish hiding places. The fish tank should be 10 gallons at least to make an appropriate environment.

Skunk corydoras will feed different types of meaty foods because they are omnivorous. You can feed them live sinking food such as brine shrimp and blood worms regularly. They will also take frozen food as food at the moment that live foods are not obtainable.

9. Peppered Corydoras (Corydoras paleatus)

Peppered corydoras originate from the rivers in Brazil and Uruguay.

Now, this is available everywhere and most probably widely spread cory catfish in the market. Its body markings with green-black covering as well as dark-splotch on the dorsal fin.

Like other cory catfish, the male is smaller than the female. Male reaches about 2.5 inches where the female reaches 3 inches. But, the pectoral and dorsal fin of the male is longer than the female.

At least a 20-gallon fish tank is suggested to them to provide the best environment. This tank should have hiding spaces for the cory’s fish. So, you can put a lot of plants and driftwood which make hiding spaces.

About the diet, this fish isn’t a choosy eater and will eat almost anything that you offer them. Therefore, give them a sinking pellet with live or frozen food every day for a healthy meal. Besides, algae wafers, daphnia or bloodworm will be a high-quality diet for them. If you’re searching for cory fish for your community aquarium, then this excellent looking peaceful fish is for you. 

10. Albino Corydoras (Mixed Corydoras)

The albino corydoras is a mixed cory fish developed for cory catfish lovers. They are commonly bred from two variants- bronze corydoras (Corydoras aeneus) and peppered corydoras (Corydoras paleatus). This fish are almost blinds and their fry are relatively slow to develop as a result of breeding, 

Albino Corydoras has pinkish-white colour armoured body with bright red eyes. It earned the name of ‘Armored Catfish’ due to this armoured body. These fish are slightly larger than the occurring species, usually growing up to 3 inches in length. The females are normally larger than male as well as other cory catfish. 

The albino corydoras are recommended for beginners because they’re not difficult to care for. They prefer a well-planted tank with hidden spaces like other cory catfish. At least a 10 gallons of fish tank is suggested for this small cory catfish. 

Although larger one such as 15 to 20 gallons will be a better option to keep them a school. Usually, they need clean water with oxygen, so the filtration system is necessary to maintain the water. It will also ensure the high oxygenation on the entire tank.

Albino Corydoras will eat all kinds of meaty foods because they are omnivores. So, every day you can give them flake food or a sinking pellet to maintain a balanced diet. Along with this, give them algae wafers, blood worm, brine shrimp or daphnia as a treat. 

Why are Cory Catfish Best For Your Fish Tank?

Here are some main reasons why cory catfish are marvellous for your fish tank.

• Small & Social Fish

The average size of cory catfish is about 2.5 inches, but some will be larger in their type. They are small in size as well as social in nature. Intentionally, they will never attack or hurt any other tank mates. So, they are suitable for a community tank as much as you maintain them.

• Easily Adaptable

Cory catfish are native to different types of water across all over South America. Usually, they like soft water but will adapt in acidic, alkaline even neutral water without any problem. They will also survive with up to 68°F to 82°F range of water temperatures.

They are omnivores, so feeding them wasn’t much difficult. Just regularly give them sufficient food plus ensure that other mates don’t eat all of their food. So, cory catfish will easily adapt to a wide range of conditions.

• Careful Cleaners

Cory catfish will feed such kind of food that aren’t accessible to top or middle dweller fish. They work as efficient cleaners by living in the bottom of the fish tank. The whole process make the entire environment more healthier. So, keeping them in your aquarium will keep your water quality better. 

• Easy Breeding

The breeding of cory catfish is relatively simple and easy. You just have to properly maintain the entire set up. You have to set up a breeding tank plus fry tank to start with. Take into consideration that they won’t breed until they feel safe and comfortable.

Conclusion:

Cory catfish will be an amazing addition to any aquarium. They are superb social as well as very simple to care for. We will talk about the top ten cory catfish available in the market. 

Hopefully, these make a higher level of attraction with cory catfish.