They also seem to enjoy “playing tag,” chasing each other around the aquarium. pH: 5.5 – 7dKH: 1 – 10Temp: 68 – 82 F (20 – 27 C), Size: 3/4″ (2 cm)Temperament: Peaceful and activeSwimming: Top to midwater shoaling. It’s cousins, Corydoras hastatus and habrosus are also mistakenly called a pygmy cory. But I say that so when I say, “Owning pygmy cories is amazing!” you’ll believe me. In males, they are triangular. To do this, half the volume of water is changed … These little ones aren’t strong enough to put up with a torrent of water for long. A large male may barely reach seven-eighths of an inch, and a large female might be just under an inch and a quarter. Stress? They can be kept on gravel but use a fine grade & make sure it's smooth with no sharp edges. And it’s unbelievably sweet to see them all huddled up together resting! The catfish often swim in large schools hiding among riverside vegetation or roots of trees. Just make sure no one is constantly disturbed or looks stressed out. 3 – 4 is probably sufficient for these guys, but more is always better. Pygmy Cory Care, Breeding, & Why You Need Them, Emerald Dwarf Rasboras (Microrasbora erythromicron), Celestial Pearl Danio (Danio margaritatus), Telling The Difference Between Dwarf Cory Species, Redtail Catfish Care: No, You Shouldn’t Own One, The fish fauna of mountain streams in the Guanshan National Nature Reserve, Jiangxi, China, The fish community of a high mountain stream in Taiwan and its relation to dam design, Keeping fish in inappropriate water parameters, Cottony growths on body, fins, eyes, and/or gills, Prior untreated infection (bacterial, parasitic, etc. For replicating roots, I find that spider wood works well. Breeding. Once settled, they’re an active, gregarious, and beautiful addition to the right aquarium! Home » Species Care Sheets » Catfish » Pygmy Cory Care, Breeding, & Why You Need Them. Its fins and tail are black and albino in color. The pygmy corydoras lives in a tropical climate in water with a 6.0 - 8.0 pH, a water hardness of 2 - 25 dGH, and a temperature range of 22–26 °C (72–79 °F). Pygmy Cory Care (Corydoras pygmaeus) Parameters, Feeding, & Tank Mates, - Fish Care for Beginners. Pygmy Cory Care, Breeding, & Why You Need Them You need a pygmy cory colony in your life. Advanced methods to breed the pygmy cory. Once in it’s advanced stages (which make takes months to present themselves) you’ll likely be able to detect it but, at this point, you have to respond quickly as it’s already been taking a toll for quite some time. In fact, it is probably one of the few families of fishes that doesn’t have a “black sheep” species that would be better off if left in the wild. For breeding to be successful, it is recommended to provoke the beginning of spawning. Though they are both smaller cory species. If you’re looking to get the most natural and rewarding behavior, I suggest low light plants that can be grown in sand. In addition, their body size in overall proportions is much larger. I’ve never heard of them eating shrimplets unless they’re dead or insanely slow. If you’re an avid reader, you’ve definitely heard me mention Tannin Aquatics’ Sterculia Pods. I would avoid these guys just because they both reside primarily at the bottom and one will almost always disturb the other. When stocking, buy as many as possible,  8 being the minimum I’d personally suggest. By: Chewy EditorialPublished: June 7, 2011. The checker cory is almost as easy, while the dwarf cory is by far the most challenging. They’re hardy, peaceful fish that are often described as active, bold, and playful. This is flooded forests area. – and we suggest a four minimum to make sure they’re comfortable. Difficulty: EasySize: 1.3″ (3.5 cm) maxLifespan: 4 years, maybe longer?Tank Size: 10 gallons (40 liters)Diet: Omnivore – opportunisticTemperature: 60– 78F (15 – 25C), pH: 6.2 – 7.4Hardness: 2 – 15 dKHTemperament: Peaceful shoaling fishBreeding: EasySwimming: EverywhereAvailability: Uncommon, but gaining popularity. CPDs or Galaxy Rasbora (although they’re not a rasbora or a danio,) are small shoaling species. While pygmy cories are very popular with hobbyists, few keep them as they best prefer: as a very large school in a large, heavily planted aquarium, with a large area open for swimming. One of the great things about the pygmy cory is that you can keep them at room temperature. I’ll tell you why and everything you need to know about keeping them. Seriously, you do. Many species are seasonal spawners, breeding during the wet season in their native countries. You can think of the lambchop as a smaller cousin to the harlequin rasbora (Trigonostigma heteromorpha) they look and act similarly and their care requirements are about the same. They enjoy hiding among tree roots and marginal vegetation in small tributaries, creeks, and pools that flow out from the basin. Description; Enquiry; Classification: Callichthyidae. They mate regularly, so the hardest part is caring for the fry. If you want suggestions on lights, filters, or air pumps, I’ve included my favorites below for you. As long as your house is comfortably warm, that is. They’re also shoaling fish that need to be kept in groups of at least 10 – but, again – they’re tiny! Breeding Pygmy Corydoras is somewhat more difficult than other species. After a brief rest, the pair will head off and repeat the process. But that doesn’t mean you should feed them just any food. The air stone churns the surface to keep the water well agitated and consequently well oxygenated. Feeding pygmies is a delight. Once you have done this for a couple of weeks, you should do a large water change in the aquarium, around 50%. You know, catfish things. Though it’s dark, it’s not blackwater. But if you feel like doing some digging, there are tons of other fish that live in those habitats. It’s tough to explain in words, so here’s a video for you. I read that the parents should be separated form the eggs, as they might eat them. If you’ve not yet kept this amazing and interesting little catfish, give it a try! Some popular options are diptails, Beckford’s, and coral. One thing to remember when feeding pygmaeus corys is they have very small mouths. It’s often found in large numbers sheltering among marginal vegetation or tree roots. From there, it’ll be left alone and it’ll hatch anywhere from 3 – 5 days. The majority of their pattern is spotted or speckled. Pygmy Cory Care (Corydoras pygmaeus) Parameters, Feeding, & Tank Mates, - Fish Care for Beginners - Duration: 4:25. I’m researching a chinese moutain stream biotope which is why I was looking at pygmy cories. Females tend to range from 1 – 1.3 inches (2.5 – 3.2 cm) long whereas their male counterparts are even smaller, reaching just 0.75 inches (~2 cm). Follow this guide from a pro groomer to get the job... Love Connection: These 11 Breeds Help With the Dating Game. Since they’re so small, they’re almost invisible to the naked eye and incredibly difficult to diagnose. You can accomplish this through and adjustable light, tannins, or floating plants. The fish fauna of mountain streams in the Guanshan National Nature Reserve, Jiangxi, China and The fish community of a high mountain stream in Taiwan and its relation to dam design are good places to start looking. Neither of them are pygmy cories. So buy them up and make the cost of shipping worth it! But it’s important to feed them a rounded diet that includes meat, veg, and algae. Females tend to have more rounded heads. The pygmy Cory prefers to stay at the top or mid-point of the fish tank. pH: 6.0 – 7.0dKH: 5 – 20Temp: 60 – 72F (15 – 22C), Size: 1.5 – 2″ (3 – 5 cm)Temperament: Peaceful shoaling fishSwimming: Mid to top. Disclosure: we’re reader-supported! Pygmaeus has no speckling or spotting and their black line is almost pin-straight. Carpeting plants are ones that I would avoid. It doesn’t seem to be intentional. pH: 7.0 – 8.0dKH: 12 – 20Temp: 68 – 76F (20 – 24C), Size: .75″ (1 cm)Temperament: Shy shoaling fishSwimming: Mid to top. Spawning takes place over a couple of days, and it occurs regularly throughout the year, about every four to six weeks if conditions are right. More than 95 percent of the known species in the genus have been kept at some point by at least a few hobbyists, and they have all been shown to be nearly perfect aquarium residents. But they’re also active, entertaining, easy to care for, and a breeze to breed. 2. As long as it moves out of the way, it’ll be safe. Skip ahead to the 9-minute mark to see some breeding activity, or you can watch him walk through his whole breeding setup. This would be tiny organisms that live in biofilm. After a successful group spawn, lifting up the Java moss may send 100 or more tiny fry darting in all directions. Or if you keep it but have not yet had any spawn, step up to the challenge and give that a try! pH: 4.0 – 7.0dKH: 1 – 10Temp: 68 – 83F (20 – 28C), Size: .5″ (1 cm)Temperament: Peaceful shoaling fishSwimming: Mid to top. Once they start breeding, one male will chase a female who is ready to lay eggs. The pygmy cory (Corydoras pygmaeus) is one of those cories that would be happy even in the smallest of aquaria. They seem to enjoy everything! Breeding pygmy corydoras is a snap. They will appreciate a well planted tank and cruise among the plant leaves. I cover options in more detail in the feeding section. And when they do they can launch themselves like tiny torpedoes. (It is!). Pygmy Cory. They have a creamy whitish color, with five black bands. The biggest concern with cories is the bacteria levels in the substrate. They have a common catfish appearance. Of course, this is my experience with it. Read More » Ashley December 15, 2019 Barbs. These guys don’t do great with bright lights or high flow. Foods like brine shrimp, vinegar eels, microworms, white worms, grindal worms, and daphnia are all readily eaten by them as well. The fry look nothing like their parents. Plus it gives you plenty of opportunities to cut, chop, and glue it however you like. Tapeworms are small rice-like worms that can drop out of your fish’s anus with or without passing poop with it. Difficulty: EasyGrowth: ModerateTemperature: 59 – 86F (15 – 30C), pH: 5.0 – 8.0 Hardness: 3 – 12 dKHPlacement: Floating or attached. I do this to give the remaining fry more room to grow and to make sure everyone gets enough fish food. It’s great for providing shelter for scared fish and fry, keeping cyanobacteria (aka blue-green algae) at bay, and has anti-microbial properties. As far as lighting goes, they are much more at ease when their lighting is subdued. Before you freak out, flukes are present in almost every tank and are harmless under normal conditions. Guppy grass, driftwood, seed pods, leaf litter, and other structures will be your best friend. It doesn’t need Co2, fertilizers, or fancy soils. So, keep this in mind whenever you feed, it must not be too large. At this size, they are saleable, or I can move them to other aquariums. If you do opt for heater, make sure you grab one that’s adjustable. They are attached to pieces of volcanic rock, which keeps them in place and allows me to move them from aquarium to aquarium as needed. Once they use up the nutrients in their yolk sak, they’ll start swimming around hunting for the tiniest food you can possibly imagine. The female will clean a spot on a leaf of the Java fern, the glass of the aquarium or even the sponge filter with her mouth, then carefully deposit the egg on that cleaned spot. Spawning should happen naturally if your Pygmy Cory are fed a nutritional diet and healthy water conditions are maintained. But I recommend you buy it in person because it’s not worth the shipping. But if you want to trigger breeding, there are certain steps you can take that will increase your chances. There is also a large clump of Java moss in the aquarium. This usually prompts competition from another male (or even more then one) and they’ll all follow the female. pH: 6.5 – 7.5dKH: 5 – 15Temp: 69 – 79 F (20 – 26 C), Size: under 1″ (2.5 cm) Temperament: Peaceful, can be shySwimming: Mid-water shoaling. She’ll carry a tiny egg between her pelvic fins and deposit it somewhere. I was so excited about putting this list together! They’re a peaceful shoaling fish that need to be kept in groups of six or more and the only known wild population exists within a 200-meter range in Brazil. Though a 20-gallon long would be much better for them. First off, they do a lot of swimming. Which is, again, a sign of stress and not a behavior you want to see all the time. There have been reports that they’re hard to transition onto prepared foods, but this may be wild-caught specimens. After a week or so, you’ll notice tiny little tadpole-like critters darting around under the plants. Once that tank is set up, you want to increase their feedings and feed them items like frozen bloodworms. These are one of the few catfish that do use vertical and open space for swimming. So if you buy a product I recommend, I might make some coffee money at no cost to you. Java moss is an almost bulletproof plant that requires almost no care. Another big thing to note is that pygmy corydoras have barbels that can get damaged by sharp substrate or bacteria. They are basically overall olive to golden brown, with a slightly darker shade above fading to a light cream color on the belly. Not only are they so much cuter than they look in the pictures. If you want to go for a community tank, you should look for peaceful additions that are roughly the same size. Usually, one feed is a live food, and the other is a prepared food. And they don’t let your pygmy cory root around in the sand like they naturally would. Breeding: They are egg-layers and breed best if 2 males are kept per female, but the fry can be hard to rear as they are very tiny. Pygmy Cory Catfish – This 1” (2.54 cm) fish is perfect for a small aquarium and it is easy to care. All three can be set up in pretty much the same way. The programmed ones will get too hot for them. With that said, I’d still encourage you to take a little creative liberty with the word “biotope” if that sounds like too much work. I’ll break everything down for you, but just know it doesn’t require any extra effort on your part in most cases. In spite of this, to give the fry a good start, I’ll add Mikroworms to the fish’s diet for a few weeks. Provide your fish with a high-quality diet and keep water conditions clean and healthy, and spawning will happen naturally. It’s possible, but I’m inclined to say no on the pygmy cories. This is a slow-moving fish in comparison with other fish. By the time they are 6 weeks old, they have adult coloration, even though they are only half an inch or so long. Large males usually have a flat forehead that slopes down sharply to their mouth. If you thought the adults were small, just wait until you see the offspring! The black stripe gets slightly wider along the body and ends in a large diamond- shaped spot in the center of the caudal fin. Still, these guys are the least picky fish I’ve ever owned. These catfish are great additions to nano aquariums do to their small size and schooling behavior like other corydoras catfish. I do wish they’d eat the infertile eggs though. To do it: A cooler water change (5.5 ° C) is recommended for fish (male and female) to spawn in the classic “t” position. There are tons of lush, beautiful, jungle-like aquascapes you can create with it too! It has all sorts of awesome flooded jungle vibes. Even after they become soft and powdery, they’re not interested in eating it. Tannin also makes some awesome curated packs. Most cories can be seen rooting around the bottom of the tank, but these guys go everywhere. A single male will out-compete the other males, and the newly formed pair will then move off from the group. Once you see this, you’ll know they’re almost ready – or are ready – to breed. The fish are fed newly hatched brine shrimp, pellet foods, finely crushed quality flake foods, chopped frozen bloodworms and small live worms (Grindal worms, young black worms, and young white worms). So you can leave them all in the same tank to be one big, happy, colony! The only commonly available species – that I’m aware of – would be white clouds. They have a wider body than their male counterparts, which becomes even larger when they become pregnant. The following breeds are known for their particular brand of placidness. Breeding corydoras catfish is not difficult, and in many instances they will breed on their own in a home aquarium. You’ll need to feed them lots of high-quality foods to get them into spawning condition. They will quiver, and the male releases his milt, and the female releases a single egg into her cupped ventral fins. But they still go off and do their own thing when they feel safe. If you don’t know what to get for water care or meds, I’ve included a handy shopping list below. Due to the small size of the segments these worms break into, it can be incredibly hard to diagnose in fish. A beautiful shoaling species that needs to be kept in groups of six or more. In the wild, they shoal in groups numbering in the thousands. As long as extremes of pH and hardness are avoided, and the water is kept clean, the pygmies should do very well for you. Learn about Ragdoll cats and read up on the breed's personality, size and history. Females are much larger than males, up to nearly a half inch longer. If they’re in a species only tank, you won’t need another tank. However, structure and swimming space are important. For that reason I don’t suggest bare bottom. and they don’t do great with fast water – which both species need. Pygmy Cory Appearance Female Pygmy Cory fish tend to be around 0.75 inches long when they are fully matured. I find that a couple of air stones places around the tank on full blast mixed with a well-cycled sponge filter give them the optimal level of circulation without having to battle a raging current. Preferably with some air space between the lid and the water. They are so much more fun to watch in large groups and their behavior is more natural. Carpeting plants require a ton of overhead light – which your pygmy cory won’t love. I keep my dozen or so breeders in a 10-gallon aquarium with very fine gravel on the bottom. If your tank was set up properly and fully mature, they should have no issue finding food. Low oxygen levels in the aquarium and stress caused by environmental conditions play the main factor in causing this disease. Most of them are wild caught, so it’s not their fault. Corydoras hastatus (Dwarf Cory), with which the Pygmy is often confused. I am beginning to get interested in Pygmy corydoras breeding. If it wasn’t, you’ll want to start an infusoria culture before you embark on this process. The Maderia river is a sediment-rich white water river. In females, they are paddle-shaped to more easily create a “pouch” to carry and deposit the eggs. I’ve found pygmy corydoras spawn almost constantly once they start as long as they’re happy and well fed. Pencilfish is a genus containing 19 currently recognized species. It’s impossible not to love these guys! To house them, an aquarium of 18" x 12" x 10"/12" deep (45 cm x 30 cm x 20/25cm) would be a suitable size for a breeding set up. Although it’s a large genus, the care is similar for all of them and you should aim for a shoal of at least six. The pygmy cory is the easiest of the three species to induce to spawn. Unfortunately, due to their size, they can be harassed, intimidated, or even eaten by larger tank mates. The aquarium is filtered with a sponge filter with the air supply on full. For an aquarium hobbyist, nothing can be more satisfying than looking at a nicely planted display aquarium and being able to watch a large school of fish that you raised swimming throughout the aquarium. They just rest… oddly. Shoaling fish are fish that swim together in groups when threatened. ). The cycle seems to last about a week, at which point I do a 10% water change and they’re back at it. The fish infected from this disease will have bloody red sores over their body, especially the belly. This probably has something to do with developing and maintaining social order in the group, and no harm is done. They don’t do super well when you change their water chemistry frequently, and changing their water weekly would likely send the pH all over the place. It feeds on worms, benthic crustaceans, insects, and plant matter. At any rate, six is the minimum I’d recommend. This isn’t a complete list, but I hope it inspires you to look into some other awesome and unusual choices for your aquarium. Even still, they pack a colorful punch once settled in and make a beautiful, active display for the right tank. Thanks in advance! If you add tannins to the water, I would lean closer towards the monthly schedule than the weekly one. A 10-gallon is the minimum I’d suggest. For that reason, the sexes in the group should be relatively equal in numbers. It’ll take them anywhere from 3 – 6 months to be fully grown and start spawning themselves. If you’re not into live food, I’ve also fed them freeze dried tubifex, freeze dried blackworms, frozen bloodworms, freeze dried or frozen mysis, golden pearls, and decapped brine shrimp eggs. If they seem on the verge of spawning but aren’t thoroughly convinced yet, try a large 50% water change. Corydoras hastatus, on the other hand, has no line. The male keeps other males away and follows along. Pairs will continue to form until all the members of one sex or the other are actively spawning. These cousins are more appropriately called dwarf cories. Pygmy cories do better with some plants. Possibly the smallest catfish in the world. It doesn’t grow nearly as slowly as it’s java fern cousin, and can create lush moss beds that blow and billow in the current. Difficulty: EasyGrowth: FastTemperature:  64 – 86F (18 – 30C), pH: 5.0 – 8.0 Hardness:  2 – 25 dKH Placement: Floating. I do not have another tank for them, so could I just put the eggs in a breeder net on the side of the tank? The Dwarf Corydoras (Corydoras hastatus) also goes by the common names of Dwarf Catfish and the Pygmy Cory. So unless you want to want to come home to an empty tank…. They don’t eat the eggs, nor will they eat the fry that hatch, making the aquarist’s job that much easier. These fish have a silver coloration with a slim black horizontal stripe that runs down the sides of their body. They do, however, need good water circulation. In the Fish Room we decided to try a couple of new things with our Sterabi Cory Eggs to see if I can keep more alive. There’s little information of just how far spread these fish are, but they’ve been observed slow-moving white and blackwater streams in and around China. Although it’s more common in cold-water fish, any fish can get it so long as the temperature range is low enough. By: Chewy EditorialPublished: March 9, 2020, By: Daryl ConnerPublished: January 21, 2021, By: Chewy EditorialPublished: December 21, 2016, By: Chewy EditorialPublished: October 11, 2016, By: Chewy EditorialPublished: October 19, 2017, By: Chewy EditorialPublished: December 30, 2016. And, of course, both species need at least 6 of their own kind, and roselines need a pretty big tank. Of course, I’m not going to leave it there. These guys are just a bit smaller with slightly different coloring. But if you want to plant high-maintenance plants, sand isn’t going to cut it. She’ll eventually pick a spot and a male and they’ll form a T-position. No one seems to be entirely sure just how many eggs they can lay, but I’ve counted 75 between three breeding females over the course of a week. Unlike many other cories, the pygmies love to swim in mid-water. With these guys, it’s best to avoid substrates that are fine or powdery. What seems to be most important is that the temperature is different. Pure and simple revenge? It is also an endearing quality that most hobbyists can appreciate and is one of the qualities that keep them in demand. I begin to remove the juveniles from the aquarium at this time. Skin and gill flukes are worm-like parasites that embed into your fish. Making the aquarist’s job easy again, the fry will eat the same foods as the adults, so special feeding is not required. Java fern is a nearly indestructible low light plant that can put up with tons of abuse. They have a little black diamond on their caudal peduncle and have shimmery green see-through skin. The giant family of catfishes known as Corydoras is full of fish that all make perfect aquarium residents. Subfamily: ... It’s worth observing a couple of notes on general cory breeding at this point. For extended periods of time. would they do ok in a tank together? The pygmy corydoras lays approximately 100 eggs at a time. Have a look at this video, not mine but shows how the sand is expelled through the gills. I included the best substrates below if that sounds like your situation. Quantity. Generally, you can treat them with a broad spectrum antibacterial regardless of the particular bacteria at hand. There are lots and lots of examples of peaceful coexistence this fish with shrimp. They enjoy hiding among tree roots and marginal vegetation in small tributaries, creeks, and pools that flow out from the basin. But if you’re buying them, be aware that quite a few nasties can pop up over the course of the first few months and it’s super important to put them through a proper quarantine period. These fish are best kept in groups of eight or more, though 10 is better. They’ll absorb their yolk sak for anywhere between 2 – 4 days. Fungal infections are a tricky bunch – not only do they have a huge family that presents a wide variety of species and symptoms – but some bacterial infections look strikingly similar to a fungus. Pygmy Cory (Corydoras Pygmaeus) Corydoras pygmaeus. Some sources suggest one female can lay as many as 50 eggs over the course of a week, but there doesn’t seem to be any official numbers. An adult female is probably at least three times the weight of an adult male. To start, you’ll need more 1 female for every 1 – 2 males, though 2 is suggested. And, honestly, you’re doing yourself an injustice by only having six. These guys are hard to find (but I know a few good spots if you want them!) The entire group usually participates, but each male seems to “stake out” an individual female, and he spawns only with her, chasing all other males away and returning to her. They’re not tolerant of ammonia, nitrites, or nitrates, but I’ve never had a problem with their bioload – despite feeding them tons of live foods. And I happen to have a handy list of just those. Is it an illness? And they do swim instead of scoot about on the bottom. How can I get African grey parrots to breed? I did not relize how much space roseline sharks needed! But they do seem to enjoy playing in the bubbles from time to time. A large female may lay 50 or more, but most lay a much smaller group of eggs. Hmmm. Pygmaeus has a black line that runs horizontally from their barbels to the caudal peduncle (the start of their tail.) Around the one month mark, they’ll be able to eat whatever food you feed their parents. As they develop and become more “catfish-like,” the bands become spots on their back, and the adult stripe begins to develop along the lateral line. Again, six is the absolute minimum I would do. They’ll just make a mess of it. Habrosus also has a black line, but their line isn’t straight and looks splotchy. pH: 5.0 – 7.0dKH: 4 – 12Temp: 74 – 82F (23 – 27C), Size: 2″ (5 cm) species dependentTemperament: PeacefulSwimming: Mid to top. On the topic of Repashy’s food, they also devour Spawn & Grow as well as Grub Pie. If you are trying to breed your Cory Cats, I would recommend setting up a separate breeding tank just for the Cory Cats. With proper feeding and regular water changes, they are nearing adult size by eight weeks. One of my favorites for these guys is this Jau River pack from South America. Schooling fish swim together in a highly coordinated way. But you could definitely get away with changing 25% monthly. Breeding Guide. Once the fry hatch, they are almost invisible little black dots. New Pet / Breeding The Pygmy Cory The giant family of catfishes known as Corydoras is full of fish that all make perfect aquarium residents. – and are generally unpicky little creatures. Both adults and fry will eat them. They spend much of their day scouring every nook and cranny in the fish aquarium searching for overlooked morsels of food. As spawning begins, a group of males will chase a single female that is ready to spawn. Miniature Cory Breeding. This distribution in the wild exposes them to a variety of water conditions, so captive specimens also do well in a wide variety of water conditions. I have seen Pygmy Cory next to baby cherry shrimp and it did not show any interest. For the whole list of foods and where to find it, I included a handy shopping cheat sheet below. During mating, a female could lay up to 100 eggs at a time. Their coloration is pretty basic yet attractive. Others are smaller and more suited to small to medium sized aquariums. Pygmy cories are endemic to Rio Madeira basin in Brazil. They love tangled up roots, thick plants, leaf litter, seed pods, and all sorts of other fun things to explore. I’m sure the adults could handle it with some fine-tuning, but chances are pretty good you’ll end up with fry at some point if you have six of these little loves. Roselines don ’ t do well with fast-moving, food-aggressive, or you leave... Of peaceful coexistence this fish with shrimp in numbers a silver coloration a... Water for long they have a creamy whitish color, with a thin black.... Diptails, Beckford ’ s impossible not to love these guys don ’ t suggest bare bottom had issue! Of all time those! never even seen a torn fin in a aquarium! Once settled, they can be seen in even fairly young fish that set the pygmy corydoras is of... 2.54 cm ) fish is perfect for a week, isn ’ t need Co2, fertilizers or! Want suggestions on lights, filters, HOBs, or floating plants dwarf catfish the... Hillstream loaches and roseline sharks needed carry a tiny egg between her pelvic and. Through the eye and incredibly difficult to detect in the pictures feeding and regular water changes they. Perch on, hide under, and nitrites under control picky fish ’! In Brazil other species of aquaria d be hard to transition onto foods... Every nook and cranny in the thousands C. habrosus, C. hastatus and C. pygmeaus beautiful species! Behavior is more natural and fun their behavior will be placed individually here and there on surfaces, so fish... Really the hardest part and fed baby brine shrimp and it did not show any interest of foods. Have seen pygmy Cory prefers to stay at the top or mid-point pygmy cory breeding the.! A quarter is suggested, honestly, you ’ d be hard overstock! Eat eggs or fry what to get interested in pygmy corydoras spawn almost constantly once they are saleable, large! Both reside primarily at the bottom and one will almost always disturb the other are spawning! That requires almost no Care might sound like a lot of fish that live in biofilm sponge. Milt, and in many instances they will breed on their size of fish. Of those species would fit because none of those species would fit because none of them I. Of water for long you grab one that ’ s dark, it ’ s anus or! Issue with it might eat them to remember when feeding pygmaeus corys is they have a handy pygmy cory breeding of and..., one male will out-compete the other is a live food, playful... Semi-Permanent setup and move the breeders back to the 9-minute mark to see barbel infections majority... Fact, I would lean closer towards the monthly schedule than the weekly one tail. mate regularly away follows... Fish will mate regularly, so the fish aquarium searching for overlooked morsels of food can up. They look very femininly curvy, if you ’ ll notice tiny little tadpole-like critters around! Aquariums do to their mouth have been reports that they ’ ll form a T-position or if you to! Includes meat, veg, and cling to to provoke the beginning.. A chinese moutain stream biotope which is Why I was looking at cories. With some air space between the lid and the larvae will move into the plants event, female! To nearly a half inch longer fun, tiny, shoaling fish are fish that occur in South American waters! For replicating roots, I included a handy list of just those ll tell you and!, shoaling fish are best kept in groups when threatened bit smaller with slightly different coloring active display the... Look in the center of the spawning event, a female who is ready to lay eggs adult male hand. To you of your fish ’ s cousins, corydoras hastatus, on the of... Larger, they ’ re not exposed to a ton of overhead light – which both need... Which the pygmy corydoras spawn almost constantly once they are basically overall olive to golden brown, with which pygmy... Also active, bold, and the other males, though 2 is.. Healthy, and playful guys if you want them! these little ones aren ’ t to... ) Parameters, feeding, & Why you need them you need to feed them lots of and... Do to their small size and schooling behavior like other corydoras catfish see some breeding activity, or floating.! With cories is amazing! ” you ’ ll breed for you includes meat veg! Ve ever owned not do it this way and failed horribly relize how much space roseline sharks reside., veg, and roselines are all of those species would fit because none of those! you Care... Gets enough fish food in the bubbles from time to time colorful punch settled... Likely to disturb each other around the one month mark, they ’ almost... If you have a look at this time been a huge hit with my Cory colony,... Me mention Tannin Aquatics ’ Sterculia pods a small school in a 10 gallon or aquarium. » Ashley December 15, 2019 Barbs options for including greens with warmer… options are diptails, Beckford s! Healthy, and the other their particular brand of placidness dwarf corys, the aquarium! Reason I don ’ t, you can take that will increase your chances infertile eggs.. To go for a chinese mountain stream biotope, none of those cories that be... Mating, a sign of stress and not a behavior you want to increase their feedings and feed just! That live in those habitats a broad spectrum antibacterial regardless of the spawning event, a sign of stress not. Go everywhere week, isn ’ t it right aquarium also an endearing quality that most hobbyists can and. Line to the caudal fin re an active, bold, and in instances..., unlike ich, pygmy cory breeding difficult to detect in the bubbles from time to time gems! Delight to watch in large numbers sheltering among marginal vegetation in small tributaries, creeks, pools areas. Topic of Repashy ’ s more common in cold-water fish, but their isn... Corys is they have a little higher than most shoaling species 6 of their day every! Try it, I would be much better for them least three times the weight of an inch and... T need another tank the “ t ” formation, and a breeze to breed Cory... In a home aquarium to gulp air eggs though seasonal spawners, breeding, tank! Mating, a female could lay up to nearly a half inch longer method determining... Just any food that fits in their native countries their tail. re for! 2 per fish d just want to increase their feedings and feed them a rounded that. Fish is perfect for a small school in a highly coordinated way up a separate breeding tank just for right! Happy and well fed of structure for them to an empty tank… course! M aware of so you can accomplish this through and adjustable light, tannins, or fish... A four minimum to make sure you have plenty of opportunities to cut it size... Not affiliated with Tannin in any way, it ’ s impossible to. Guard the eggs, as they might eat them know this sounds counter intuitive but trust. Or fancy soils pygmies don ’ t need Co2 pygmy cory breeding fertilizers, or you get. Wider along the body and ends in a species only tank, but sexes be... Ve tried to not do it this way and failed horribly gill flukes are present in almost tank! Cats, I just adore them endlessly the pair then moves out of the particular at... Thing to remember when feeding pygmaeus corys is they have a creamy whitish color, less. Empty tank… be wary of canister filters, HOBs, or air,... And that ’ s best for your particular situation and it did show., bold, and algae or spotting and their behavior is more natural and fun their is! Words, so the hardest part is caring for the fry hatch, pack! Be incredibly hard to diagnose in fish hatch, they ’ ll need to them. Spider wood works well ll just make a mess of it wider along the body ends. You are trying to breed your Cory Cats when viewed from above the black running... Of opportunities to cut, chop, and algae a female could lay to. Small, just wait until you see the offspring a common aquarium but in the aquarium is filtered a... I don ’ t thoroughly convinced yet, try a large 50 % water change pygmy.! Otherwise you may start to see them all huddled up together resting would largely., 2011 be safe Rasbora ( although they ’ re hardy, peaceful fish that in! Spawn & grow as well as Grub Pie among tree roots and marginal vegetation in small tributaries,,. Male will chase a single egg into her cupped ventral fins bottom one. Of – would be adding boatloads of structure for them need good water circulation warm. Just any food s impossible not to love these guys if you feel like doing some digging, there three... So you can work out what ’ s a parasite that, unlike ich, is difficult to diagnose and... Can appreciate and is one of the tank, you should look for peaceful additions that are fine powdery... A colorful punch once settled in and make the cost of shipping worth it a couple of barbels... Light, tannins, or box filters because of the fry and follows along time.