Miguelito cory
Brochis virginiae
Also known as Corydoras virginiae, Sangama cory, Virginia cory
FreshwaterFish
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 Ucayali drainage in Peru.
Overview
The Miguelito cory is a hardy, peaceful cory from Peru for a planted community tank. It is easy to keep and makes a good first cory.
Did you know
The Miguelito cory is named after Virginia Schwartz, wife of the exporter Adolfo Schwartz. His team collected the type specimens.
Caring for the Miguelito cory
A group of six or more Miguelito cories needs a tank of at least 20 gal (75 L). Give them smooth sand, and they will settle well into a planted community.
Keep the water soft to neutral, at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Offer sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm and other small foods that reach the bottom.
Miguelito cories are peaceful and safe with other community fish. Breeding them is moderately difficult.
Good to know
The Miguelito cory's dark markings sit mostly on the head, with a black mask through the eye and a black shoulder blotch. That pattern looks more like a panda cory than a striped one. It was described in 1993, and the 2024 revision placed it in the genus Brochis, as Brochis virginiae.
In the wild
The Miguelito cory lives in soft, slightly acidic tributaries of the Ucayali in Peru. It forages over sand in slow, shaded water among wood and leaf litter, and groups gather on the open bottom.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Miguelito 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)
Blue panchax
Aplocheilus panchax
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Bleeding heart tetra
Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma
Freshwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)70–81°F (21–27°C)
Agassiz's dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma agassizii
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–84°F (22–29°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Miguelito cory need?
A Miguelito cory needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Miguelito cory need?
A Miguelito cory is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
What does a Miguelito cory eat?
A Miguelito cory eats sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm and other small foods that reach the bottom.
How big does a Miguelito cory get?
An adult Miguelito cory reaches about 2.4 in (6 cm).
Does a Miguelito cory need a group?
Yes. A Miguelito cory is a shoaling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Related species
2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)False blochi cory
Brochis delphax
2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Gomez's cory
Brochis gomezi
2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Icana cory
Brochis incolicana
2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Reticulated cory
Brochis reticulata
2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
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)