TankBud

Gossei cory

Hoplisoma gossei

Also known as Corydoras gossei, Pale Spotted Cory

FreshwaterFish

Gossei cory (Hoplisoma gossei)
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
Rio Mamoré / upper Rio Madeira basin, Rondônia, northwestern Brazil (likely also northern Bolivia)

Overview

The Gossei cory is a peaceful, bottom-dwelling catfish that is easy to keep in a community tank.

Did you know

The Gossei cory's pectoral fin spines can lock out and pierce skin.

Caring for the Gossei cory

Keep Gossei cories in a shoal of at least five or six, and more is better. A group that is too small gets stressed and hides. Give them 20 gal (75 L) or more with a long footprint, since floor space matters more than height. A base of about 90 by 30 cm suits a group.

Soft, fine sand is not optional for these cories. They sift the substrate with delicate barbels, and sharp gravel wears them down and invites infection. If you cannot use sand, only very smooth, rounded gravel kept scrupulously clean will do.

Hold the water at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5, soft to moderately hard. Feed sinking pellets, wafers and frozen foods such as bloodworms or daphnia, and make sure the food reaches the bottom. Net and handle them carefully rather than scooping them up by hand. Never release unwanted fish into local waters, and check your local rules before rehoming.

Gossei cories are peaceful and spend their time foraging along the bottom. Breeding takes some work and copies a seasonal trigger from the wild. A large water change with noticeably cooler water, paired with stronger flow, mimics the rainy season and prompts the group to spawn. The fry need pristine water to grow, so stay on top of clean conditions until they are sturdy.

Good to know

The Gossei cory is a catfish in the family Callichthyidae. It is a facultative air breather, so it sometimes darts up to the surface for a quick gulp of air, which is normal. Its accepted name is Hoplisoma gossei, and it is also called the pale spotted cory.

In the wild

The Gossei cory comes from the Rio Mamoré and the upper Rio Madeira basin in Rondônia, northwestern Brazil, and likely northern Bolivia as well. These are warm lowland Amazon waters with soft sand and leaf litter on the bottom, where the fish root around for food.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Gossei 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 Gossei cory need?

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

What temperature and pH does a Gossei cory need?

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

What does a Gossei cory eat?

A Gossei cory eats sinking pellets, wafers and frozen foods such as bloodworms or daphnia. Make sure the food reaches the bottom.

How big does a Gossei cory get?

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

Does a Gossei cory need a group?

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

How does a Gossei cory breed?

Gossei cories spawn after a large, noticeably cooler water change paired with stronger flow, which mimics the rainy season. Breeding takes some work, and the fry need pristine water until they are sturdy.

Related species