Why is my Bronze Cory darting to the surface?

This is completely normal behaviour. Corydoras have evolved the ability to breathe atmospheric air through their intestines. They dart to the surface to take a quick gulp of air, which helps them survive in poorly oxygenated waters in the wild.

Why are my Corydoras losing their barbels (whiskers)?

Barbel erosion is almost always caused by sharp, abrasive gravel substrates or poor water quality at the bottom of the tank (high bacteria/nitrates). Switching to fine sand and increasing substrate maintenance usually stops the degradation, and the barbels may slowly grow back if the damage is not too severe.

Will Bronze Corys clean my tank?

While they are excellent at finding uneaten fish food that has fallen to the bottom, they do not eat fish waste or algae. You must feed them a dedicated, nutritious sinking diet.

Can I keep just one or two Bronze Corys?

No. Corydoras are highly gregarious schooling fish. Keeping them in groups of fewer than six will result in stressed, shy fish that are more susceptible to disease.

Are Bronze Corys and Albino Corys the same species?

Yes, in the vast majority of cases. The common Albino Cory sold in the trade is simply a genetic colour mutation of the Bronze Cory (Corydoras aeneus), and they will happily shoal together.

FreshwaterTropicalBeginner

Bronze Cory

Corydoras aeneus

A hardy, peaceful bottom-dweller, the Bronze Cory is a beloved staple of the freshwater hobby, renowned for its industrious foraging and highly sociable nature.

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Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 21 – 27 °C
pH range: 6 – 7.5
Hardness: 2 – 15 dGH
Adult size: 6 – 7 cm
60L (standard 2ft tank) for a small shoal: 60 litres+
Lifespan: 5 – 10 years
Diet: Omnivore. Requires high-quality sinking pellets or wafers, supplemented regularly with live or frozen bloodworms, Daphnia, and Tubifex.
Water flow: Low to moderate
Preferred setup: Soft sand substrate is strictly required to prevent barbel erosion. Provide plenty of cover via driftwood, smooth river stones, and dense planting.

About the Bronze Cory

The Bronze Corydoras is one of the most recognisable and widely kept catfish in the aquarium hobby. Belonging to the family Callichthyidae, they are known as 'armoured catfish' because they possess bony plates, known as scutes, instead of conventional scales. Their endless, wiggling search for food along the substrate brings a delightful energy to the lower levels of an aquarium. Almost all Bronze Corys sold today are captive-bred, resulting in an exceptionally adaptable and hardy fish.

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Where Bronze Cory comes from

Native range

South America, Amazon Basin

Countries / regions

Trinidad and Tobago, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina

Habitat

Found in shallow, slow-moving rivers, streams, and flooded forest floors featuring soft, sandy or muddy substrates with abundant leaf litter.

Extremely widespread across South America, heavily suggesting that 'Corydoras aeneus' in the wild is actually a complex of closely related species rather than a single taxon.

Similar species

Peppered Cory
Corydoras paleatus
Sterba's Cory
Corydoras sterbai
Panda Cory
Corydoras panda

We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

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Neon Tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Peaceful, occupies the mid-to-upper water levels, and shares similar water parameter requirements.
Great
Bristlenose Pleco
Ancistrus sp.
Excellent, peaceful bottom-dwelling companion that focuses on algae and wood rather than competing directly for the Corydoras' protein-rich diet.
Great
Harlequin Rasbora
Trigonostigma heteromorpha
A tranquil schooling fish that stays in the upper water column, completely ignoring the bottom-dwelling Corydoras.
Great
Angelfish
Pterophyllum scalare
While often kept together safely, large Angelfish can be territorial, especially when breeding, and may intimidate smaller Corydoras.
Compatible with caution
Oscar
Astronotus ocellatus
Oscars will view Corydoras as food. If swallowed, the Corydoras' defensive pectoral and dorsal spines will lock, often resulting in the death of both fish.
Not recommended

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