Cory are beloved by all who have owned them. Virtually all Cory species should be kept in schools; stories of single Corys pining away from loneliness are not uncommon. Corys should be kept only with small to medium-sized peaceful fish.

Corys, like all catfish, are bottom feeders and scavengers (though they also appreciate a meal of brine shrimp). On the one hand, that means they can help to keep your tank clean by finding and eating bits of uneaten food and other debris. On the other hand, Corys tend to make a bit of a mess as they poke through the substrate and send algae and other muck into the water. Bottom line, while they can be considered part of your tank’s “clean-up crew,” they’ll need a little help from snails, shrimp, and other scavengers.

What Is a Cory?

A Cory is a catfish. They are small, peaceful, bottom-dwelling scavengers.

The Spruce / Catherine Song

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  • Bandit Cory
  • Acuario
  • Scientific name: Corydoras metaeAdult size: 2 inches (5 cm)Lifespan: 5 yearsMinimum tank size: 10 gallonpH: 6.5–7.0Hardness: 5–10 degrees dGHTemperature: 72–79 degrees F (22–26 degrees C)Tankmates: Peaceful schooling species
  • Bandit Corys have been in the aquarium trade for a long time and are one of the more popular members of this family. They are easily identifiable by the black mask over the eyes. Bandits are more sensitive to variations in water temperature than some other species.
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  • Bronze Cory
  • Hung-Jou Chen
  • Scientific name: Corydoras aeneusAlso known as: Green CorydorasAdult size: 2.5 inches (6 cm)Lifespan: 5 years​Minimum tank size: 10 gallonpH: 5.8–7.0Hardness: 2–30 degrees dGHTemperature: 72–79 degrees F (22–26 degrees C)Tankmates: Peaceful schooling fish
  • Like Pepper Corys, Bronze Corys are very popular and readily available everywhere. These two species of Corys are hands down the most commonly kept members of this family. Bronze Corys are available in several color morphs, including green, bronze, albino, and black. They do well in a range of conditions but should be kept in schools.
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  • Julii Cory
  • h080
  • Scientific name: Corydoras juliiAdult size: 2.5 inches (6 cm)Lifespan: 5+ yearsMinimum tank size: 10 gallonpH: 6.5–7.8Hardness: to 20 degrees dGHTemperature: 73–79 degrees F (23–26 degrees C)Tankmates: Peaceful bottom-dwelling schooling fish
  • Although this species may be seen for sale in pet shops, it rarely is the real McCoy. Instead what is labeled as a Julii is its kissing cousin the Three Stripe Cory. True Julis have spots that are generally not connected into long chains, as they are in the Three Stripe Cory.
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  • Panda Cory
  • Haplochromis
  • Scientific name: Corydoras pandaAlso known as: Panda Catfish, Panda CorydorasAdult size: 2 inches (5 cm)Lifespan: 10+ yearsMinimum tank size: 10 gallonpH: 6.0–7.0Hardness: 2–12 degrees dGHTemperature: 68–77 degrees F (20–25 degrees C)Tankmates: Peaceful, compatible with all species, keep in schools
  • Panda Corys are highly social and should always be kept in schools of their own kind. They get along with virtually all other peaceful species and have been known to school along with other bottom-dwelling species. Pandas prefer cooler temps and are suitable for unheated aquariums.
  • Continue to 5 of 7 below.
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  • Pepper Cory
  • Hiyotada
  • Scientific name: Corydoras paleatusAlso known as: Blue Leopard Corydoras, Peppered Catfish, Peppered CoryAdult size: Males–2.5 inches (6.5 cm), Females–3 inches (7.5 cm)Lifespan: 5 yearsMinimum tank size: 15 gallonpH: 6.0–7.0Hardness: to 12 degrees dGHTemperature: 72–78 degrees F (22–26 degrees C)Tankmates: Peaceful, best kept in schools with other smaller fish
  • Pepper Corys are perhaps the most commonly kept member of this family and are widely available at pet shops everywhere. They are peaceful and get along with virtually all fish, but should not be kept with large aggressive species.
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  • Skunk Cory
  • The Spruce / Shirlie L Sharpe
  • Scientific name: Corydoras arcuatusAdult size: 2 inches (5 cm)Lifespan: 5 yearsMinimum tank size: 10 gallonpH: 6.8–7.5Hardness: 2–25 degrees dGHTemperature: 72–79°F (22–26 degrees C)Tankmates: Peaceful, enjoys a large school
  • Skunk Corys are more sensitive to elevated ammonia and nitrates than other species. For this reason, they are not recommended for a brand new aquarium. Instead, wait until the tank is matured before adding this species.
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  • Three Stripe Cory
  • Gerald Schneider
  • Scientific name: Corydoras trilineatusAdult size: 2.5 inches (6 cm)Lifespan: 10 yearsMinimum tank size: 10 gallonpH: 5.8–7.2Hardness: to 18 degrees dGHTemperature: 72–78 degrees F (22–26 degrees C)Tankmates: Peaceful, keep in small schools
  • The Three Stripe Cory is readily available in most pet shops, but it may be a Julii Cory. Three Stripe Corys can be distinguished by the spots on the head that are connected in a long string, giving them a maze-like appearance.

Bandit Cory

  • Scientific name: Corydoras metaeAdult size: 2 inches (5 cm)Lifespan: 5 yearsMinimum tank size: 10 gallonpH: 6.5–7.0Hardness: 5–10 degrees dGHTemperature: 72–79 degrees F (22–26 degrees C)Tankmates: Peaceful schooling species

Bandit Corys have been in the aquarium trade for a long time and are one of the more popular members of this family. They are easily identifiable by the black mask over the eyes. Bandits are more sensitive to variations in water temperature than some other species.

Bronze Cory

  • Scientific name: Corydoras aeneusAlso known as: Green CorydorasAdult size: 2.5 inches (6 cm)Lifespan: 5 years​Minimum tank size: 10 gallonpH: 5.8–7.0Hardness: 2–30 degrees dGHTemperature: 72–79 degrees F (22–26 degrees C)Tankmates: Peaceful schooling fish

Like Pepper Corys, Bronze Corys are very popular and readily available everywhere. These two species of Corys are hands down the most commonly kept members of this family. Bronze Corys are available in several color morphs, including green, bronze, albino, and black. They do well in a range of conditions but should be kept in schools.

Julii Cory

  • Scientific name: Corydoras juliiAdult size: 2.5 inches (6 cm)Lifespan: 5+ yearsMinimum tank size: 10 gallonpH: 6.5–7.8Hardness: to 20 degrees dGHTemperature: 73–79 degrees F (23–26 degrees C)Tankmates: Peaceful bottom-dwelling schooling fish

Although this species may be seen for sale in pet shops, it rarely is the real McCoy. Instead what is labeled as a Julii is its kissing cousin the Three Stripe Cory. True Julis have spots that are generally not connected into long chains, as they are in the Three Stripe Cory.

Panda Cory

  • Scientific name: Corydoras pandaAlso known as: Panda Catfish, Panda CorydorasAdult size: 2 inches (5 cm)Lifespan: 10+ yearsMinimum tank size: 10 gallonpH: 6.0–7.0Hardness: 2–12 degrees dGHTemperature: 68–77 degrees F (20–25 degrees C)Tankmates: Peaceful, compatible with all species, keep in schools

Panda Corys are highly social and should always be kept in schools of their own kind. They get along with virtually all other peaceful species and have been known to school along with other bottom-dwelling species. Pandas prefer cooler temps and are suitable for unheated aquariums.

Pepper Cory

  • Scientific name: Corydoras paleatusAlso known as: Blue Leopard Corydoras, Peppered Catfish, Peppered CoryAdult size: Males–2.5 inches (6.5 cm), Females–3 inches (7.5 cm)Lifespan: 5 yearsMinimum tank size: 15 gallonpH: 6.0–7.0Hardness: to 12 degrees dGHTemperature: 72–78 degrees F (22–26 degrees C)Tankmates: Peaceful, best kept in schools with other smaller fish

Pepper Corys are perhaps the most commonly kept member of this family and are widely available at pet shops everywhere. They are peaceful and get along with virtually all fish, but should not be kept with large aggressive species.

Skunk Cory

  • Scientific name: Corydoras arcuatusAdult size: 2 inches (5 cm)Lifespan: 5 yearsMinimum tank size: 10 gallonpH: 6.8–7.5Hardness: 2–25 degrees dGHTemperature: 72–79°F (22–26 degrees C)Tankmates: Peaceful, enjoys a large school

Skunk Corys are more sensitive to elevated ammonia and nitrates than other species. For this reason, they are not recommended for a brand new aquarium. Instead, wait until the tank is matured before adding this species.

The Spruce / Shirlie L Sharpe

Three Stripe Cory

  • Scientific name: Corydoras trilineatusAdult size: 2.5 inches (6 cm)Lifespan: 10 yearsMinimum tank size: 10 gallonpH: 5.8–7.2Hardness: to 18 degrees dGHTemperature: 72–78 degrees F (22–26 degrees C)Tankmates: Peaceful, keep in small schools

The Three Stripe Cory is readily available in most pet shops, but it may be a Julii Cory. Three Stripe Corys can be distinguished by the spots on the head that are connected in a long string, giving them a maze-like appearance.