Corydoras catfish, among the most loved and sought-after fish by aquarists, are cherished for their friendly nature and ease of care. Hobbyists love them because of their peaceful nature, ease of care, pleasant nature, and cleaning abilities like a pro.
These top-class fish are beautiful with striking patterns and appealing appearance. Most of the corydoras fish are found in the South and North American regions.
It is said that cory catfish has more than 165 species, each with different visuals, requiring different care and maintenance, and living in various types of aquariums with different water parameters.
To help you choose the perfect Cory catfish for your aquarium and keep it safe and secure, here are our Top 10 Most Popular and Beautiful Cory Catfish Species With Pictures.
So why not dive in?
But before diving directly into the cory catfish types, here is what you need to know. Corydoras catfish come in different types and require different tank types and care levels, so knowing about each type is necessary.
1. Sterbaicory (Corydorassterbai)
Sterbai Cory (Corydoras sterbai) is one of the most common types of cory catfish. These are some of the most beautiful and exciting fish with yellow fins, dotted patterns, dotted dorsal and anal fins, colors like chess dotts, a combination of black and white, and mustache-like barbles on the face.
These fish grow up to 2.7 inches and are found in South America. These fish need normal water tanks and live in 70 to 77 F temperatures. For their best care, set the pH range between 5.8 to 8.
Keeping all the suitable parameters and feeding them with catfish pallets, algae, and live foods, these can live for 5 to 7 years.
- Sterba’s Cory (Corydoras sterbai)
- Family: Callichthyidae
- Scientific name: Corydoras sterbai
- Diet: Sinking catfish pellets, algae wafers, and f live foods like
- Origin: South America (specifically found in Brazil)
- Size: 2.5 inches (6.5 cm)
- Temperature Range: 70–77°F
- pH Range: 5.8–8.0
- Lifespan: 5-7 years
- Water type: Freshwater
- Aquarium friendly: Yes
2. Peppered Cory (Corydoraspaleatus)
Talking about corydoras catfish, and one ignores peppered cory, it is not possible. Peppered cory are beautiful fish with black and white splotches and transparent anal, pectoral, and dorsal fins.
These fish grow up to 2.5 inches and can live for seven years. Like other cory catfish, they are also omnivores and eat mixed food.
Their perfect care guide is 72 to 78 temperature, pH between 6 to 7, and hardness maximum at 12 DGh.
- Family: Callichthyidae
- Scientific Name: Corydoras Paleatus
- Diet: Omnivorous: Sinking Pellets, Small Live Or Frozen Foods.
- Origin: South America (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay)
- Size: 2.5 Inches (6.5 Cm)
- Minimum Tank Size: 15-Gallon
- Ph: 6.0–7.0
- Hardness: To 12 Degrees Dgh
- Temperature: 72–78 Degrees F (22–26 Degrees C)
- Lifespan: 5-7 Years
- Water Type: Freshwater
- Aquarium Friendly: Yes
3. Bronze Cory (Corydorasaeneus)
These golden or bronze metal-type looking Bronze cory fish, another named Corydorasaeneus, are beautiful to watch.
Their small bodies with golden appearance and small dorsal and anal fins make them one of the best aquarium fish. These grow up to 3 inches and live up to 10 years. You can call this the biggest cory fish.
For their best care guide, put them in a 10-gallon water tank. Feed them with algae wafers and small live or frozen foods. Set the pH level between 6.9 and 8.0, and the hardness must be between 5 and 19 dGH. Make sure the temperature never crosses 79 F and is below 72.
- Family: Callichthyidae
- Scientific name: Corydoras aeneus
- Diet: algae wafers and small live or frozen foods.
- Origin: South America (Amazon River basin)
- Size: 3 inches (7.5 cm)
- Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallon
- Lifespan: 5-7 years
- pH: 6.0 to 8.0
- Hardness: 5 to 19 dGH
- Temperature: 72 to 79 F (22 to 26 C)
- Water type: Freshwater
- Aquarium friendly: Yes.
4. Emerald Green Cory (Corydorassplendens)
As the name suggests, Emerald Green Cory is green in color at the center, which grows darker and shines as they grow. They grow up to 2 inches.
These are some of the most peaceful and easy-to-keep fish. They are friendly and jovial, and they are well-known community fish.
Found in the Amazon River basin, they eat sinking pallets, algae wafers, and live foods. These fish thrive in water temperatures of 68 to 82 and pH levels between 5.8 to 8.0.
- Family: Callichthyidae
- Scientific name: Corydoras splendens
- Diet: sinking pellets, algae wafers, and small live foods.
- Origin: South America (Amazon River basin)
- Size: 2 inches (5 cm)
- Temperature Range: 68–82°F
- pH Range: 5.8–8.0
- Lifespan: 4-5 years
- Water type: Freshwater
- Aquarium friendly: Yes
5. Bandit Cory (Corydorasmetae)
Bandit cory fish, commonly known as Corydorasmetae, are white or silver in color. They have black patterns on the upper side, starting from the eyes and moving to half of the body, and another black pattern on the lower side.
These fish are found in South America and grow up to 2.5 inches. Their favorite water temperature is 72 to 79 Fahrenheit, and they thrive in waters having pH levels between 6.5 to 7.0.
These are community fish and can be found in local aquarium stores. For diet, feed them sinking catfish pellets and small live or frozen foods twice a day.
- Family: Callichthyidae
- Scientific name: Corydoras metae
- Diet: sinking catfish pellets and small live or frozen foods.
- Origin: South America (Colombia)
- Size: 2.5 inches (6.5 cm)
- Lifespan: 5-7 years
- Temperature Range: 72–79°F
- pH: 6.5–7.0
- Water type: Freshwater
- Aquarium friendly: Yes.
6. Pygmy Cory (Corydoraspygmaeus)
Pygmy Cory has a transparent body with a black line in the middle that starts from the head and ends at the end. It looks like their skeleton is darker.
Scientifically known as Corydoraspygmaeus, these are found in South America. They are best for community tanks and grow only to 1 inch, but in rare cases, they can grow up to 1.3 inches.
They live in normal-sized tanks and prefer water parameters of 70 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit and a pH level between 6.5 and 7.5. They are very friendy and social cory; get them for your water tank.
- Family: Callichthyidae
- Scientific name: Corydoras pygmaeus
- Diet: Omnivorous
- Origin: South America (Amazon River basin)
- Size: 1 inch (2.5 cm)
- Lifespan: 3-4 years
- Temperature Range: 70–78°F
- pH: 6.5–7.5
- Water type: Freshwater
- Aquarium friendly: Yes
7. Panda Cory (Corydoras panda)
Panda cory, which are small and fluffy creatures, got their name from the panda due to their black-and-white patterns. They are scientifically known as corydoras pandas and are found in South America, particularly in Peru.
These fish grow up to 2.5 inches in length. They prefer an omnivore diet and eat algae, live, and frozen food. The lifespan of coryfish is around 5 to 7 years.
Their favorite water parameters are 88 to 79 degrees, and they thrive at pH levels between 5.8 and 7.0. Being so friendly, they are best for community fish tanks.
- Family: Callichthyidae
- Scientific name: Corydoras panda
- Diet: Omnivorous.
- Origin: South America (Peru)
- Size: 2.5 inches (5 cm)
- Temperature Range: 68–79°F
- pH: 5.8–7.0
- Lifespan: 5-7 years
- Water type: Freshwater
- Aquarium friendly: Yes,
8. Three Stripe Cory (Corydorastrilineatus)
Three-stripe cory is one of the underestimated cory fish. With distinct markings all over the body, their three strips are recognizable.
These are found in South America and grow up to 2.5 inches. Having so many different markings, they are sometimes misnamed julii cory catfish.
They are also omnivores and eat sinking pellets, algae wafers, and small live food. They are perfect for community fish. Maintain water parameters between 72 to 78 Fahrenheit and pH levels between 5.8 to 7.2.
- Family: Callichthyidae
- Scientific name: Corydoras trilineatus
- Diet: sinking pellets, algae wafers, and small live or frozen foods.
- Origin: South America (Amazon River basin)
- Size: 2.5 inches (6.5 cm)
- Lifespan: 5-7 years
- Temperature Range: 72–78 °F
- pH: 5.8–7.2
- Water type: Freshwater
- Aquarium friendly: Yes
9. Skunk Cory (Corydorasarcuatus)
Skunk cory fish, scientifically known as Corydorasarcuatus, are coryfish type with transparent fins, black strips over the upper level that start from the head to the tail, and silver bodies at a lower level.
These fish grow up to 2.5 inches and love living in freshwater. Their jovial nature makes them no less than drama.
These fish are made for community tanks and thrive in normal water parameters such as temperature between 72 to 79 Fahrenheit and pH range between 6.8 to 7.5.
- Family: Callichthyidae
- Scientific name: Corydoras arcuatus
- Diet: sinking catfish pellets, algae wafers, and frozen foods.
- Origin: South America (Ecuador, Peru)
- Size: 2.5 inches (6.5 cm)
- Temperature Range: 72–79°F
- pH Range: 6.8–7.5
- Lifespan: 5-7 years
- Water type: Freshwater;
- Aquarium friendly: Yes
10. Albino Cory (Corydoraspaleatus)
How can I forget Albino Cory when discussing Cory fish types? It is, personally, my favorite fish with a bright golden-type body. With curvy bodies and golden eyes, they enhance the joy of the community fish in which they reside.
They are peaceful, jovial, social fish. Albino Cory’s favorite foods are algae, live, and frozen foods. They are easily available in the fish stores.
If you are planning to get a group of albino cory, keep them in the temperature range of 70–75°F and a pH level between 5.5–7.2. And they live live for seven years.
- Family: Callichthyidae
- Scientific name: Corydoras paleatus
- Diet: Omnivorous
- Origin: South America (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay)
- Size: 2.5 inches
- Temperature Range: 70–75°F
- pH Range: 5.5–7.2
- Lifespan: 5-7 years
- Water type: Freshwater; neutral water (pH 6.0-7.5)
- Aquarium friendly: Yes
Conclusion
Cory catfish are the most common and breathtaking fish species you can get for your aquarium. They are one of the best fish with a gentle nature and pleasant characteristics.
Tank mates living with Corydoras catfish never feel stressed. Because of their cleaning habits, these fish are also called the clean-up crew. Almost all cory fish types eat algae, claiming water tanks automatically.
Many hobbyists keep them not only for their beauty but also for their cleaning hobbies. Their care guide and maintenance level are one of the easiest. Just feed them different types of foods, such as sinking palettes, algae, frozen, and live foods.
Other than that, maintain the water temperature at 75 to 80 Fahrenheit and the pH between 6.5 and 7.6. Make sure the hardness does not exceed 15 dkH.
It was all from me. If you have any suggestions or want to add anything, please leave a comment below. We’ll be so happy.
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