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
Keep Burgess's cories in a group of six or more over smooth sand in soft, acidic water around 22 to 26 C. They do best in a shaded, tannin stained tank with calm tankmates. Feed sinking pellets and small frozen foods such as bloodworm.
In the wild
Burgess's cory lives in soft, acidic blackwater near Sao Gabriel da Cachoeira on the upper Rio Negro. It forages over sand among leaf litter and roots in slow, tannin stained water. Groups gather in shaded areas near cover.
Good to know
This is a member of the adolfoi group and is easily confused with the adolfoi and duplicate cories. A broad black band crosses the head through the eyes, with a pale nape patch and a dark blotch below and into the dorsal fin. The 2024 revision moved it to the genus Hoplisoma as Hoplisoma burgessi.
Did you know
The species is named after ichthyologist Warren Burgess and belongs to the same lookalike group as the adolfoi cory.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
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.
Bleeding heart tetra
Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma
Freshwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)70–81°F (21–27°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)
Brilliant rasbora
Rasbora einthovenii
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Norman's lampeye
Poropanchax normani
Freshwater1.6 in (4 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Common spiny loach
Lepidocephalichthys thermalis
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°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.
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
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2.2 in (5.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)Julii cory
Hoplisoma julii
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2.2 in (5.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–79°F (23–26°C)Oiapoque cory
Hoplisoma oiapoquense
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Hoplisoma sipaliwini
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