Geoffroy's cory
Corydoras geoffroy
Also known as Type cory, Geoffroy's catfish, Wolf Cory
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–81°F
- 23–27°C
- pH
- 5.8–7.2
- Adult size
- 3 in
- 7.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 26 gal
- 100 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Shoaling
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Callichthyidae
- Origin
- Coastal rivers of Suriname and French Guiana
Overview
Geoffroy's cory is a peaceful bottom catfish, best for a keeper who has some experience. It turns up in the trade only rarely, usually as costly imports from the Guianas. For collectors of the genus, it is the historical crown piece rather than a casual purchase.
Caring for the Geoffroy's cory
Keep Geoffroy's cories as a shoal in 26 gal (100 L) or larger, with open sand to sift. They are largish, long-snouted cories that like room and current. Use a deep bed of fine sand with wood and stones.
Keep the water well oxygenated, at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C) and a pH of 5.8 to 7.2. Feed sinking and frozen foods, as you would any cory.
Geoffroy's cories are peaceful and mix with other community fish. No reliable account of captive breeding exists.
Good to know
Geoffroy's cory is the species that started it all. Lacepede described it as the very first cory, making it the type species of the genus. Every other cory was measured against it for two centuries, and the 2024 revision anchored the restricted genus Corydoras on it. It is also called the wolf cory.
In the wild
Geoffroy's cory lives in the coastal rivers of Suriname and French Guiana. It is found over sand in clear, flowing forest water.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Geoffroy'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.
Gill's molly
Poecilia gillii
FreshwaterBrackish3.9 in (10 cm) · 26 gal (100 L)72–86°F (22–30°C)
Spotfin hatchetfish
Thoracocharax stellatus
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 26 gal (100 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Pantanal cory
Brochis pantanalensis
Freshwater3 in (7.5 cm) · 26 gal (100 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Rainbow cichlid
Herotilapia multispinosa
Freshwater6.3 in (16 cm) · 26 gal (100 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Wrestling halfbeak
Dermogenys pusilla
FreshwaterBrackish2.8 in (7 cm) · 25 gal (95 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Smooth-belly Borneo sucker
Gastromyzon psiloetron
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 25 gal (95 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Geoffroy's cory need?
A Geoffroy's cory needs at least 26 gal (100 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Geoffroy's cory need?
A Geoffroy's cory is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 5.8–7.2.
What does a Geoffroy's cory eat?
A Geoffroy's cory eats sinking and frozen foods, like any cory.
How big does a Geoffroy's cory get?
An adult Geoffroy's cory reaches about 3 in (7.5 cm).
Does a Geoffroy's cory need a group?
Yes. A Geoffroy's cory is a shoaling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Related species
2.8 in (7 cm)26 gal (100 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Fowler's cory
Corydoras fowleri
2.8 in (7 cm) · 26 gal (100 L)
2.8 in (7 cm)30 gal (115 L)73–77°F (23–25°C)Long nosed arched cory
Corydoras narcissus
2.8 in (7 cm) · 30 gal (115 L)
2.8 in (7 cm)22 gal (85 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Pastaza cory
Corydoras pastazensis
2.8 in (7 cm) · 22 gal (85 L)
2.6 in (6.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Fuller's cory
Corydoras fulleri
2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.6 in (6.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Ourastigma cory
Corydoras ourastigma
2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.6 in (6.5 cm)24 gal (90 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Peru black cory
Corydoras semiaquilus
2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)