Black band cory
Osteogaster zygata
Also known as Corydoras zygatus, Zygus cory
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–79°F
- 22–26°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 2.6 in
- 6.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 21 gal
- 80 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Shoaling
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Callichthyidae
- Origin
- Upper Amazon in the Rio Maranon watershed of eastern Ecuador and northern Peru.
Overview
Keep black band cories in a group of six or more over smooth sand at 22 to 26 C in soft to neutral water. They are peaceful and hardy in a settled tank. Feed sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm and other small sinking foods.
In the wild
The black band cory lives in soft, slightly acidic tributaries of the Maranon watershed. It forages over sand in slow, shaded water among wood and leaf litter. Groups move along the open bottom during the day.
Good to know
A single narrow dark stripe runs along the upper flank but fades out before it reaches the lower part of the tail base. That fading stripe separates it from the very similar rust cory, whose band continues onto the lower tail base. The 2024 revision moved it to the genus Osteogaster as Osteogaster zygata.
Did you know
The black band cory is often sold as the rust cory, and the only reliable difference is whether the dark stripe reaches the lower tail base.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
Black band 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.
Rex halfbeak
Nomorhamphus rex
Freshwater2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Apple snail
Pomacea canaliculata
Freshwater5.9 in (15 cm) · 21 gal (80 L)64–81°F (18–27°C)
Bond's glass tetra
Xenagoniates bondi
Freshwater2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 21 gal (80 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Craggy-head banjo catfish
Bunocephalus verrucosus
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 21 gal (80 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Blue panchax
Aplocheilus panchax
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Blue-green lampeye
Procatopus aberrans
Freshwater2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Black band cory need?
A Black band cory needs at least 21 gal (80 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Black band cory need?
A Black band cory is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
How big does a Black band cory get?
An adult Black band cory reaches about 2.6 in (6.5 cm).
Does a Black band cory need a group?
Yes. A Black band cory is a shoaling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Related species
2.4 in (6 cm)17 gal (65 L)68–73°F (20–23°C)Gold laser cory
Osteogaster melanotaenia
2.4 in (6 cm) · 17 gal (65 L)
2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Rust cory
Osteogaster rabauti
2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)Venezuelan orange cory
Osteogaster aenea
2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
3 in (7.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)70–81°F (21–27°C)Bronze cory
Osteogaster aenea
3 in (7.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2 in (5 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Horseman cory
Osteogaster eques
2 in (5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)
1.6 in (4 cm)15 gal (55 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Volcano cory
Osteogaster hephaestus
1.6 in (4 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)