Ornate cory
Brochis ornata
Also known as Corydoras ornatus, Ornate corydoras
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–79°F
- 22–26°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.2
- Adult size
- 2.8 in
- 7 cm
- Minimum tank
- 24 gal
- 90 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Shoaling
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Callichthyidae
- Origin
- Lower Rio Tapajos basin in Brazil.
Overview
The ornate cory is one of the larger cories, a peaceful shoaler that forages over the bottom of a community tank. It suits a keeper with a little experience.
Did you know
The ornate cory carries three bold black stripes down a clean white body. That pattern gave it its name, which means adorned.
Caring for the ornate cory
Keep ornate cories in a group of six or more, in a tank of at least 24 gal (90 L). They are high-bodied cories that need open floor space, so give them smooth sand with room to forage.
Keep the water soft and slightly acidic, at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.2. Offer sinking pellets and small frozen foods, such as bloodworm and daphnia.
Ornate cories are peaceful and safe with other community fish. There is no widely documented record of them spawning in an aquarium.
Good to know
The ornate cory belongs to the family Callichthyidae. The 2024 revision placed it in the genus Brochis, as Brochis ornata. Its pattern also includes a black eye bar.
In the wild
The ornate cory lives in clear, soft tributaries of the lower Rio Tapajos basin in Brazil. It forages over sand in slow, shaded water, among wood and leaf litter.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The ornate 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)Siamese flying barb
Laubuka siamensis
Freshwater2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Apple snail
Pomacea canaliculata
Freshwater5.9 in (15 cm) · 21 gal (80 L)64–81°F (18–27°C)
Congo tetra
Phenacogrammus interruptus
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does an ornate cory need?
An ornate cory needs at least 24 gal (90 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does an ornate cory need?
An ornate cory is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.2.
What does an ornate cory eat?
An ornate cory eats sinking pellets and small frozen foods, such as bloodworm and daphnia.
How big does an ornate cory get?
An adult ornate cory reaches about 2.8 in (7 cm).
Does an ornate cory need a group?
Yes. An ornate cory is a shoaling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Related species
2.8 in (7 cm)24 gal (90 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Agassiz's cory
Brochis agassizii
2.8 in (7 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)
2.8 in (7 cm)24 gal (90 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Leopard cory
Brochis leopardus
2.8 in (7 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)
2.8 in (7 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Mosaic cory
Brochis haraldschultzi
2.8 in (7 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
3 in (7.5 cm)26 gal (100 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Pantanal cory
Brochis pantanalensis
3 in (7.5 cm) · 26 gal (100 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)