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Bethan's cory

Brochis bethanae

Also known as Corydoras bethanae, Giant Skunk Cory

FreshwaterFish
Bethan's cory (Brochis bethanae)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–81°F (23–27°C)
pH
5.8–7.2
Adult size
2.6 in (6.5 cm)
Minimum tank
20 gal (75 L)
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Shoaling
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Hard
Rarity
Rare
Origin
Upper Amazon drainages of Loreto, Peru
Family
Callichthyidae

Overview

Keep a group of six or more over sand in 75 liters. It feeds readily on sinking prepared and frozen foods and behaves like a textbook peaceful cory. Breeding follows the classic pattern of cool water changes and egg-laying on glass and leaves, but reports remain scarce for this recently named fish, so document anything that works.

In the wild

Bethan's cory comes from soft, gently acidic streams in the Peruvian Amazon lowlands, foraging over sand and litter in shoals. Set it up on smooth sand with wood, leaf patches, and clean, well-oxygenated water at 23 to 27 degrees Celsius, pH 5.8 to 7.2.

Good to know

Described in 2021 by Bentley, Grant and Tencatt, this Peruvian species reaches about 6.5 centimeters and now sits in Brochis per the 2024 revision. Before description it circulated in the hobby under a CW code, one of many masked, spotted Peruvian corys that took genetics and fine morphology to untangle into named species.

Did you know

This is one of the corys that spent years labeled with a CW number in shops before a 2021 paper finally gave it a name.

Tank mates

Bethan's cory is a peaceful, shoaling species that keeps to the bottom. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a Bethan's cory need?

A Bethan's cory needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH do Bethan's cory need?

Bethan's cory are comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 5.8–7.2.

How big do Bethan's cory get?

An adult Bethan's cory reaches about 2.6 in (6.5 cm).

Do Bethan's cory need a group?

Yes. Bethan's cory are a shoaling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

Where to buy

Some links may not be the exact species or variety.

…or ask your local fish store.

Appears in

Freshwater fish · Corydoras · Schooling fish · Community fish · Bottom dwellers

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