TankBud

Gold laser cory

Osteogaster melanotaenia

Also known as Corydoras melanotaenia, Elongate Bronze Cory, Gold Green Cory

FreshwaterFish

Gold laser cory (Osteogaster melanotaenia)
Imperial Tropicals · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
68–73°F
20–23°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
2.4 in
6 cm
Minimum tank
17 gal
65 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Shoaling
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Callichthyidae
Origin
Colombia

Overview

The gold laser cory is a peaceful catfish for the bottom of a cool community tank, best with a little experience.

Did you know

The gold laser cory's species name, melanotaenia, means black band in Greek, for the dark stripe along its body. Its trade name points to the bright metallic green gold line that can light up the flank of a well-kept fish.

Caring for the gold laser cory

Keep gold laser cories in a group of at least six, which keeps them confident and active. A group needs 17 gal (65 L) or more. Give them a soft sand bed for sifting with their barbels, plus driftwood and shaded planting.

Gold laser cories prefer cooler water, so keep them out of a hot tank. Hold the water at 68 to 73°F (20 to 23°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Keep it clean, well oxygenated and moving gently.

Feed sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm and daphnia, and a little algae wafer. Check that the food reaches the floor.

They are peaceful and suit a calm community of small fish that also like slightly cooler water. They have been bred in aquaria, but breeding them is difficult. They respond to cool, clean water and conditioning on live foods.

Good to know

The gold laser cory is an armored catfish of the family Callichthyidae, and its accepted name is Osteogaster melanotaenia. Its elongated, bronze-toned form gives it the alternate name elongate bronze cory, and it is also called the gold green cory.

In the wild

The gold laser cory comes from the Meta and upper Orinoco drainages of Colombia. It lives over sand in soft, gently flowing water.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The gold laser 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 gold laser cory need?

A gold laser cory needs at least 17 gal (65 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a gold laser cory need?

A gold laser cory is comfortable at 68–73°F (20–23°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a gold laser cory eat?

A gold laser cory eats sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm and daphnia, and a little algae wafer. Check that the food reaches the floor.

How big does a gold laser cory get?

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

Does a gold laser cory need a group?

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

How does a gold laser cory breed?

Gold laser cories have been bred in aquaria, but it is difficult. They respond to cool, clean water and conditioning on live foods.

Related species