Oiapoque cory
Hoplisoma oiapoquense
Also known as Corydoras oiapoquensis, Flagtail panda cory, Flag-tailed cory, Flag tail panda cory
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–79°F
- 23–26°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.2
- 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
- Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Callichthyidae
- Origin
- Rio Oyapock basin in French Guiana and Brazil.
Overview
The Oiapoque cory is a calm, sociable cory that lives in groups on the bottom of the tank. It takes a bit more care than a beginner fish.
Did you know
The Oiapoque cory looks like a panda cory. Its striped flag tail and the missing spot at the tail base set it apart.
Caring for the Oiapoque cory
Oiapoque cories need a group of six or more and a tank of at least 20 gal (75 L). Smooth sand and a quiet, planted community suit them.
The water should be soft and slightly acidic, at 73 to 79°F (23 to 26°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.2. Feed sinking pellets and small frozen foods such as bloodworm.
They are peaceful and suit a community of calm fish. Breeding them is moderately hard.
Good to know
The Oiapoque cory has a black eye mask and a dark shoulder blotch, plus wavy dark bars across the tail. The 2024 revision placed it in the genus Hoplisoma, as Hoplisoma oiapoquense. The striped tail is why it is sometimes called the flagtail panda cory.
In the wild
The Oiapoque cory lives in soft, slightly acidic streams of the Oyapock basin, on the border of French Guiana and Brazil. It forages over sand among leaf litter and wood, and groups gather in slow, shaded water.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Oiapoque 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)
Emperor tetra
Nematobrycon palmeri
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Blue panchax
Aplocheilus panchax
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Blue neon dwarf goby
Stiphodon atropurpureus
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does an Oiapoque cory need?
An Oiapoque cory needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does an Oiapoque cory need?
An Oiapoque cory is comfortable at 73–79°F (23–26°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.2.
What does an Oiapoque cory eat?
An Oiapoque cory eats sinking pellets and small frozen foods such as bloodworm.
How big does an Oiapoque cory get?
An adult Oiapoque cory reaches about 2.2 in (5.5 cm).
Does an Oiapoque cory need a group?
Yes. An Oiapoque 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)68–79°F (20–26°C)Julii cory
Hoplisoma julii
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)