TankBud

Grant's cory

Hoplisoma granti

Also known as Corydoras granti, Super arcuatus, Skunk Hoplisoma, Colombian skunk cory

FreshwaterFish

Grant's cory (Hoplisoma granti)
-serwacy01- · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–81°F
23–27°C
pH
5.8–7.2
Adult size
2.6 in
6.5 cm
Minimum tank
20 gal
75 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Shoaling
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Callichthyidae
Origin
Amazon-Solimoes drainages of Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru

Overview

Grant's cory is a peaceful catfish for a soft-water community tank, and the larger, bolder-arched twin of the skunk cory. It suits a keeper with a little experience.

Did you know

For decades, shops sold Grant's cory as the super arcuatus, a skunk cory that seemed too big and too bold. In 2019 the label finally became a species, and most trade fish labeled super arcuatus are this one.

Caring for the Grant's cory

Keep Grant's cories in a group of six or more, in 20 gal (75 L) or larger. Give them fine sand with leaves and wood.

They handle the usual soft, warm cory water, at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C) and a pH of 5.8 to 7.2. Feed prepared sinking foods and frozen foods, which they eat without hesitation.

Grant's cories are peaceful and mix well with other peaceful soft-water fish. True breeding reports are scarce, and breeding them is hard. The reports that exist follow the cool-change method.

Good to know

Grant's cory was described in 2019 by Tencatt, Lima and Britto. It is named for Steven Grant, who first argued it was distinct. Its black arch runs from the snout over the back to the tail base, heavier and longer than in the true arcuatus. The 2024 revision lists it as Hoplisoma granti, in the family Callichthyidae.

In the wild

Grant's cory ranges along blackwater and mixed-water streams of the Amazon-Solimoes system in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. It shelters in leaf litter and sandy shallows.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Grant'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.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a Grant's cory need?

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

What temperature and pH does a Grant's cory need?

A Grant's cory is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 5.8–7.2.

What does a Grant's cory eat?

A Grant's cory eats prepared sinking foods and frozen foods without hesitation.

How big does a Grant's cory get?

An adult Grant's cory reaches about 2.6 in (6.5 cm).

Does a Grant's cory need a group?

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

How does a Grant's cory breed?

Grant's cories have few true breeding reports, and breeding them is hard. The reports that exist follow the cool-change method.

Related species