Napo cory
Gastrodermus napoensis
Also known as Corydoras napoensis, Napo catfish, Napo Spotted Cory
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–79°F
- 22–26°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.4
- Adult size
- 2 in
- 5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 16 gal
- 60 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Shoaling
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Callichthyidae
- Origin
- Upper Amazon in Ecuador and Peru, including the rio Napo and rio Nanay.
Overview
The Napo cory is an active, peaceful cory that lives in groups and suits a community tank. It is easy to keep, even for a newer keeper.
Did you know
The Napo cory is a small member of the elegans group. Its broken dark lines form a loose net over a golden body.
Caring for the Napo cory
Give Napo cories a tank of at least 16 gal (60 L) with smooth sand. Keep six or more together in a quiet planted community.
Soft water suits them, at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.4. Offer sinking pellets and small frozen foods such as bloodworm and daphnia.
Napo cories are peaceful and active, and safe with other community fish. Males carry a dark blotch in the dorsal fin that females lack, which is the easiest way to tell them apart. Breeding them takes some skill.
Good to know
The 2024 revision placed the Napo cory in the genus Gastrodermus, as Gastrodermus napoensis. It belongs to the family Callichthyidae and is also known as Corydoras napoensis.
In the wild
The Napo cory comes from the upper Amazon in Ecuador and Peru, including the rio Napo and rio Nanay. It forages over sand in soft, slightly acidic tributaries, in slow, shaded water among leaf litter and wood. The fish stay in groups on the open bottom.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Napo 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)
Fanning characin
Pyrrhulina rachoviana
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
White spotted rabbit snail
Tylomelania towutica
Freshwater4.3 in (11 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)75–84°F (24–29°C)
African oneline tetra
Nannaethiops unitaeniatus
Freshwater2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Napo cory need?
A Napo cory needs at least 16 gal (60 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Napo cory need?
A Napo cory is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.4.
What does a Napo cory eat?
A Napo cory eats sinking pellets and small frozen foods such as bloodworm and daphnia.
How big does a Napo cory get?
An adult Napo cory reaches about 2 in (5 cm).
Does a Napo cory need a group?
Yes. A Napo cory is a shoaling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
How can you tell a male Napo cory from a female?
Males carry a dark blotch in the dorsal fin, and females lack it. That blotch is the easiest way to tell the sexes apart.
Related species
2 in (5 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Guapore cory
Gastrodermus guapore
2 in (5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)
2.1 in (5.4 cm)16 gal (60 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)Elegant cory
Gastrodermus elegans
2.1 in (5.4 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)
1.8 in (4.5 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Nain dwarf cory
Gastrodermus nanus
1.8 in (4.5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)
1.8 in (4.5 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Nijssen's cory
Gastrodermus nijsseni
1.8 in (4.5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)
1.4 in (3.5 cm)12 gal (45 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Nano cory
Gastrodermus gracilis
1.4 in (3.5 cm) · 12 gal (45 L)
1.4 in (3.5 cm)13 gal (50 L)70–81°F (21–27°C)Sixray cory
Gastrodermus pauciradiatus
1.4 in (3.5 cm) · 13 gal (50 L)