TankBud

Concolor cory

Hoplisoma concolor

Also known as Corydoras concolor, Slate cory

FreshwaterFish

Concolor cory (Hoplisoma concolor)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–79°F
22–26°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
2.4 in
6 cm
Minimum tank
20 gal
75 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Shoaling
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Common
Family
Callichthyidae
Origin
Orinoco River basin, western Venezuela (South America)

Overview

The Concolor cory is a peaceful shoaling catfish for the bottom of a warm community tank. It is easy to keep.

Did you know

Like all Corydoras, the Concolor cory can gulp air at the surface. Its occasional dash up for a breath is normal behavior.

Caring for the Concolor cory

Keep Concolor corys in a group of at least six, and eight or more is better. On their own or in small numbers they turn shy and skittish. Give them 20 gal (75 L) or larger with a wide floor, since they spend their time foraging across the bottom.

Use only soft, fine sand on the bottom. Sharp gravel wears down and infects their barbels, and it is a common cause of barbel loss. Add some shade from plants and driftwood.

Run good filtration and keep the water well oxygenated, at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C). They like it slightly soft, at a pH of 6.0 to 7.5, though they tolerate harder water.

Concolor corys are peaceful and do well with small tetras, rasboras and dwarf cichlids. Their pectoral spines are mildly venomous, so net and handle them with care.

They are rated a step harder to spawn than the common corys, and they are bred in the hobby less often. Condition the group on live and frozen foods, then do a larger water change with cooler water. That drop mimics the cool runoff that floods their home streams in the rainy season, and it triggers spawning.

Good to know

The Concolor cory is a bottom-dwelling catfish in the family Callichthyidae, the armored corys. It is listed as Hoplisoma concolor and also known as Corydoras concolor.

In the wild

Concolor corys come from the Orinoco River basin in western Venezuela. They work over the soft sand and leaf litter of slow, shaded stretches of water.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Concolor 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.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a Concolor cory need?

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

What temperature and pH does a Concolor cory need?

A Concolor cory is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a Concolor cory eat?

A Concolor cory takes live and frozen foods. A group fed well on them comes into condition to spawn.

How big does a Concolor cory get?

An adult Concolor cory reaches about 2.4 in (6 cm).

Does a Concolor cory need a group?

Yes. A Concolor cory is a shoaling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

How does a Concolor cory breed?

Concolor corys spawn after a larger water change with cooler water, which mimics the cool runoff of the rainy season. Condition the group on live and frozen foods first. They are a step harder to spawn than the common corys.

Related species