Adolfo's cory

Corydoras adolfoi

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 70–79°F (21–26°C)
pH: 6.0–7.2
Adult size: 2.4 in (6 cm)
Minimum tank: 20 gal (75 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Easy
Breeding: Hard
Rarity: Common
Origin: Brazil
Family: Callichthyidae

Overview

Keep them in a group of at least six, more if you have room, since they get nervous on their own. They stay on the bottom, sifting sand for food with their barbels. They are peaceful and mix well with small, calm community fish. Feed sinking pellets, frozen bloodworms, and the odd algae wafer, and make sure food actually reaches the floor. Aim for a tank around 75 liters or larger.

In the wild

Adolfo's cory comes from blackwater tributaries of the upper Rio Negro in Brazil. The water there is soft, acidic, and stained brown by leaf litter over sand. Give them a fine sand bottom, some dried leaves or wood, and gentle filtration to match that. Soft, slightly acidic water in the low to mid 20s C keeps them comfortable.

Good to know

This is a member of Callichthyidae, the armored catfish family. Adults reach about 6 cm. Like other Corydoras, the body is covered in bony plates rather than scales. They are egg layers, and breeding them is on the harder side, usually triggered by cool water changes. Healthy fish can live well past five years.

Did you know

Adolfo's cory is named after Adolfo Schwartz, a Brazilian fish exporter who first brought it to the trade. It is easy to confuse with the false cory, Corydoras imitator, which copies its pattern almost exactly.