Corydoras Catfish
Corydoras spp.
Family: Callichthyidae
Cories are the janitors everyone loves. They waddle along the bottom, wiggling their little barbels, looking adorable while cleaning up missed food. I've never had a planted tank without at least 6 of these guys.
Water Parameters
Temperature
pH Level
Hardness (dGH)
Care Tips
SAND SUBSTRATE ONLY. Gravel destroys their barbels and leads to infections. Learned this the hard way with my first batch. Keep 6+ of the same species—they're happier with their own kind than mixed Cory species.
Feeding
Don't rely on "leftover" food—that's a myth that starves them. Feed sinking pellets directly to the bottom. Mine love Hikari Sinking Wafers and frozen bloodworms. They eat at night too, so evening feeding works well.
Breeding
Cool water changes trigger spawning. Females stick eggs on glass and plant leaves. The "T-position" mating dance is wild to watch. Eggs hatch in 3-5 days.
📚 Sources: Care parameters based on SeriouslyFish, FishBase, and Aquarium Co-Op. Personal observations from the author's 5+ years of fishkeeping experience.