Julii cory
Hoplisoma julii
Also known as Corydoras julii, Leopard cory
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 68–79°F
- 20–26°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 2.2 in
- 5.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 20 gal
- 75 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Shoaling
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Very rare
- Family
- Callichthyidae
- Origin
- Brazil
Overview
The Julii cory is a spotted catfish that forages in peaceful groups across the floor of a community tank. It is manageable for a keeper with some experience.
Did you know
The true Julii cory is rarely imported. Almost every fish sold under its name is really the three line cory, Corydoras trilineatus.
Caring for the Julii cory
Keep Julii cories in a group of at least six, in a tank of 20 gal (75 L) or larger. Give them a soft sand bed to sift, with driftwood, dried leaves and shaded planting.
Keep the water clean and gently filtered, at 68 to 79°F (20 to 26°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Regular water changes keep this delicate cory in good condition.
Feed sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm and daphnia, and a little wafer. Julii cories forage across the sandy bottom with their barbels, so check that the food settles where they can reach it.
They mix well with small, calm community fish that leave the floor clear at feeding time. Julii cories have been bred in aquaria, but breeding them is rated difficult.
Good to know
The Julii cory is an armored catfish of the family Callichthyidae, listed as Hoplisoma julii and also known as Corydoras julii. It wears fine, separate dark spots on the head. The three line cory shows the same marks joined into maze like lines.
In the wild
The true Julii cory comes from clear coastal rivers in northeastern Brazil. It lives over sand in warm, soft, slightly acidic water.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Julii 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.
Neocaridina shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
Freshwater1.6 in (4 cm) · 5 gal (19 L)59–84°F (15–29°C)
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
FreshwaterBrackish2.4 in (6 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)
Neon tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Freshwater1.5 in (3.8 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)70–77°F (21–25°C)
Neon rainbowfish
Melanotaenia praecox
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 20 gal (76 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Six-barred panchax
Epiplatys sexfasciatus
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Corica loach
Nemacheilus corica
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Julii cory need?
A Julii cory needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Julii cory need?
A Julii cory is comfortable at 68–79°F (20–26°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
What does a Julii cory eat?
A Julii cory eats sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm and daphnia, and a little wafer. Check that the food settles where it can reach it on the bottom.
How big does a Julii cory get?
An adult Julii cory reaches about 2.2 in (5.5 cm).
Does a Julii cory need a group?
Yes. A Julii cory is a shoaling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Related species
2.2 in (5.5 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Bluespotted cory
Hoplisoma melanistium
2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)
2.2 in (5.5 cm)16 gal (60 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Boeseman's cory
Hoplisoma boesemani
2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)
2.2 in (5.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Burgess's cory
Hoplisoma burgessi
2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.2 in (5.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–79°F (23–26°C)Oiapoque cory
Hoplisoma oiapoquense
2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.2 in (5.5 cm)16 gal (60 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Sipaliwini cory
Hoplisoma sipaliwini
2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)
2.2 in (5.5 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Threestripe cory
Hoplisoma trilineatum
2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)