Bethan's cory
Brochis bethanae
Also known as Corydoras bethanae, Giant Skunk Cory
FreshwaterFish
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
- Substrate spawner · Hard
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Callichthyidae
- Origin
- Upper Amazon drainages of Loreto, Peru
Overview
Bethan's cory is a peaceful Peruvian cory for the bottom of a community tank. It is a step beyond the easiest cories.
Did you know
Bethan's cory spent years in shops labeled with a CW number, before a 2021 paper finally gave it a name.
Caring for the Bethan's cory
Keep Bethan's cories in a group of six or more, in a tank of at least 20 gal (75 L). Set them up on smooth sand with wood and leaf patches.
Keep the water clean and well oxygenated, at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C) and a pH of 5.8 to 7.2. They feed readily on sinking prepared and frozen foods.
Bethan's cories behave like textbook peaceful cories and are safe with other community fish. Breeding follows the classic pattern of cool water changes, with eggs laid on glass and leaves. Reports remain scarce for this recently named fish, and breeding it is hard, so document anything that works.
Good to know
Bethan's cory was described in 2021 by Bentley, Grant and Tencatt, and the 2024 revision places it in Brochis. It is one of many masked, spotted Peruvian cories that took genetics and fine morphology to untangle into named species.
In the wild
Bethan's cory comes from soft, gently acidic streams in the Peruvian Amazon lowlands, in the upper Amazon drainages of Loreto. It forages in shoals over sand and litter.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Bethan's cory is a peaceful, shoaling species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Aurora tetra
Moenkhausia aurora
Freshwater2 in (5.2 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Six-barred panchax
Epiplatys sexfasciatus
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Marble wood shrimp
Atya scabra
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Barito loach
Kapuasia falaris
Freshwater2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Largescale rasbora
Rasbora paucisqualis
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Blue panchax
Aplocheilus panchax
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
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 does a Bethan's cory need?
A Bethan's cory is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 5.8–7.2.
What does a Bethan's cory eat?
A Bethan's cory feeds readily on sinking prepared and frozen foods.
How big does a Bethan's cory get?
An adult Bethan's cory reaches about 2.6 in (6.5 cm).
Does a Bethan's cory need a group?
Yes. A Bethan's cory is a shoaling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
How does a Bethan's cory breed?
Bethan's cories follow the classic cory pattern, spawning after cool water changes and laying eggs on glass and leaves. Breeding reports remain scarce, and breeding them is hard.
Related species
2.6 in (6.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Amanda Jane's cory
Brochis amandajanea
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2.6 in (6.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–79°F (23–26°C)Bannertail cory
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2.6 in (6.5 cm)24 gal (90 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Pretty cory
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2.6 in (6.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Seuss's cory
Brochis seussi
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2.6 in (6.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)70–81°F (21–27°C)Spotted cory
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