Cory Catfish Care

The cory catfish is a group of more than 160 freshwater catfish. These bottom-dwelling fish have short faces, armored white bodies with black spots, and barbels or whiskers around their mouths.

Cory catfish are peaceful, hardy fish that don’t harass their tank mates. The fish are popular amongst aquarists due to their calm temperaments and unique appearance.

~~FAQs~~

~Can you keep bristlenose plecos with cory catfish?~

Yes, you can keep bristlenose plecos with cory catfish. However, because both species are bottom-dwellers, you need to get a large enough tank that extends more horizontally than vertically so that these fish can swim and live comfortably.

A single bristlenose pleco needs at least 25 gallons of water to live comfortably, while a cory catfish requires 10–15 gallons of water.

Also, try to introduce them into the tank while they are still juveniles. That way, the plecos and cory catfish can get used to each other. This will help prevent aggression over territories in the future.

~Will cory catfish kill my shrimp?~

No, cory catfish will not kill your shrimp. Cory catfish are peaceful and non-aggressive. Their mouths are also small and downturned, so cory catfish are very unlikely to attack or eat your shrimp. In fact, cory catfish and shrimp make great tank mates.

But even though cory catfish won’t harm healthy adult shrimp, sometimes they might munch on sick shrimp as well as shrimp eggs and fry. Luckily, this shouldn’t negatively affect your shrimp population.

If necessary, try separating your cory catfish from the shrimp eggs and fry. Also, let your shrimp grow a bit before putting them in the tank to prevent the corys from eating them.

~Can I put three cory catfish in a 10-gallon tank?~

Yes, you can put three cory catfish in a 10-gallon tank. As a general rule, a one-inch cory catfish requires one gallon of water in the tank. Depending on the species, an adult cory catfish can grow to be 2–4 inches long, so three cory catfish can live comfortably in a 10-gallon tank.

However, you should always try to keep your cory catfish in a larger tank. This is because cory catfish are schooling fish and thrive best in groups of at least six. Because a 10-gallon tank isn’t big enough for six corys, you should strive to keep them in a 20-gallon tank or bigger.

~What do cory cats eat?~

Cory cats eat the following:

-Sinking pellets or flakes

-Sinking algae wafers

-Bottom feeder tablets

-Small insects

-Larvae

-Freeze-dried and live bloodworms

You should feed your corys twice every day to keep them happy and healthy. Only give them what they can consume within two or three minutes to avoid overfeeding and bloating. You should also provide your corys with various high-quality foods, and rotate their diet every few days.

Additionally, because corys are bottom feeders, they love to eat scraps and leftover food from other fish in the tank. Sometimes, they might even eat fish poop and other fish’s eggs.

~Can corydoras live without sand?~

No, corydoras can’t live without sand. In the wild, corydoras live along sandy river bottoms and have evolved to feed by sifting sand through their gills. Without sand, there will be nothing for them to sift.

To keep your corydoras happy and healthy, provide soft, natural sand at the bottom of their tank. Soft river sand, natural black sand, and coal blasting sand are ideal, but pool filter and play sand are also acceptable.

However, if you can’t provide them with sand, a bare bottom tank is preferable to gravel. Gravel substrate might injure corydoras’ fins and the sensitive barbels in their mouths.

This is an example of some questions. in the application there is still a lot of info and FAQ about Cory Catfish