Burgess's cory
Hoplisoma burgessi
Also known as Corydoras burgessi, Burgess corydoras
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–79°F
- 22–26°C
- pH
- 5.5–7.2
- Adult size
- 2.2 in
- 5.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 20 gal
- 75 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Shoaling
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Callichthyidae
- Origin
- Upper Rio Negro basin in Brazil, including the Rio Unini.
Overview
Burgess's cory is a peaceful shoaling catfish for a shaded, soft-water tank. It is a step up from the easiest fish, so it suits a keeper with a little experience.
Did you know
Burgess's cory is named after the ichthyologist Warren Burgess. It is easily confused with the adolfoi and duplicate cories, its lookalikes in the adolfoi group.
Caring for the Burgess's cory
Keep Burgess's cories in a group of six or more, in a tank of 20 gal (75 L) or larger. Give them smooth sand on the bottom, where they spend their time. They do best in a shaded tank with tannin-stained water.
Keep the water soft and acidic, at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.2. Feed sinking pellets and small frozen foods such as bloodworm.
Burgess's cories are peaceful and fine in groups of their own kind, so give them calm tank mates. Breeding them is a moderate challenge.
Good to know
Burgess's cory carries a broad black band across the head, running through the eyes. It has a pale patch on the nape and a dark blotch below and into the dorsal fin. The 2024 revision moved it from Corydoras to the genus Hoplisoma, as Hoplisoma burgessi, within the family Callichthyidae.
In the wild
Burgess's cory lives in soft, acidic blackwater near Sao Gabriel da Cachoeira on the upper Rio Negro in Brazil. It forages over sand among leaf litter and roots, in slow, tannin-stained water. Groups gather in shaded areas near cover.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Burgess'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.
Neocaridina shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
Freshwater1.6 in (4 cm) · 5 gal (19 L)59–84°F (15–29°C)
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
FreshwaterBrackish2.4 in (6 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)
Neon tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Freshwater1.5 in (3.8 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)70–77°F (21–25°C)
African banded barb
Barbus fasciolatus
Freshwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Blue panchax
Aplocheilus panchax
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Borneo kuhli loach
Pangio borneensis
Freshwater2.5 in (6.3 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Burgess's cory need?
A Burgess's cory needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Burgess's cory need?
A Burgess's cory is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.2.
What does a Burgess's cory eat?
A Burgess's cory eats sinking pellets and small frozen foods such as bloodworm.
How big does a Burgess's cory get?
An adult Burgess's cory reaches about 2.2 in (5.5 cm).
Does a Burgess's cory need a group?
Yes. A Burgess's cory is a shoaling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Related species
2.2 in (5.5 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Bluespotted cory
Hoplisoma melanistium
2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)
2.2 in (5.5 cm)16 gal (60 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Boeseman's cory
Hoplisoma boesemani
2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)
2.2 in (5.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)Julii cory
Hoplisoma julii
2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.2 in (5.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–79°F (23–26°C)Oiapoque cory
Hoplisoma oiapoquense
2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.2 in (5.5 cm)16 gal (60 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Sipaliwini cory
Hoplisoma sipaliwini
2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)
2.2 in (5.5 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Threestripe cory
Hoplisoma trilineatum
2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)