Imitator cory
Brochis imitator
Also known as Corydoras imitator, Long-nosed adolfoi, Long-nosed false adolfoi
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–79°F
- 22–26°C
- pH
- 5.5–7.2
- Adult size
- 2.6 in
- 6.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 21 gal
- 80 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Shoaling
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Callichthyidae
- Origin
- Upper Rio Negro basin in Brazil and southern Venezuela.
Overview
Keep imitator cories in a group of six or more over soft sand in soft, acidic water around 22 to 26 C. They do best in a calm tank with plenty of shade and tannin stained water. Feed sinking pellets and small frozen foods that reach the bottom.
In the wild
The imitator cory comes from blackwater tributaries of the upper Rio Negro, where the water is very soft, acidic and stained brown by tannins. It forages over sand among leaf litter and submerged wood. Groups often mix with the short nosed cories it resembles.
Good to know
This is a long snouted mimic of the short snouted adolfoi and duplicate cories, wearing the same black cap and orange shoulder pattern. The two forms even school together in the wild. The 2024 revision placed the imitator in the genus Brochis as Brochis imitator.
Did you know
The long nosed imitator copies the color pattern of the short nosed adolfoi cory so closely that the two shoal together in the same rivers.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
Imitator 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.
Rex halfbeak
Nomorhamphus rex
Freshwater2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Apple snail
Pomacea canaliculata
Freshwater5.9 in (15 cm) · 21 gal (80 L)64–81°F (18–27°C)
Black widow tetra
Gymnocorymbus ternetzi
Freshwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)Leopard eel catfish
Ituglanis metae
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 21 gal (80 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Norman's lampeye
Poropanchax normani
Freshwater1.6 in (4 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Steel blue killifish
Fundulopanchax gardneri
Freshwater2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 21 gal (80 L)70–79°F (21–26°C)
Common questions
What size tank does an Imitator cory need?
An Imitator cory needs at least 21 gal (80 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does an Imitator cory need?
An Imitator cory is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.2.
How big does an Imitator cory get?
An adult Imitator cory reaches about 2.6 in (6.5 cm).
Does an Imitator cory need a group?
Yes. An Imitator cory is a shoaling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Related species
2.6 in (6.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Amanda Jane's cory
Brochis amandajanea
2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.6 in (6.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–79°F (23–26°C)Bannertail cory
Brochis robineae
2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.6 in (6.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Bethan's cory
Brochis bethanae
2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.6 in (6.5 cm)24 gal (90 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Pretty cory
Brochis pulchra
2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)
2.6 in (6.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Seuss's cory
Brochis seussi
2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.6 in (6.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)70–81°F (21–27°C)Spotted cory
Brochis ambiacus
2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)