Peru black cory
Corydoras semiaquilus
Also known as Black Peru cory, Semiaquilus cory
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–79°F
- 22–26°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 2.6 in
- 6.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 24 gal
- 90 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Shoaling
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Callichthyidae
- Origin
- Western Amazon in Peru and western Brazil.
Overview
Keep Peru black cories in a group of six or more over smooth sand at 22 to 26 C in soft, slightly acidic water. They are peaceful and do best with good water quality. Feed sinking pellets and small frozen foods such as bloodworm and daphnia.
In the wild
The Peru black cory lives in soft, slightly acidic tributaries of the western Amazon. It forages over sand and leaf litter in slow, shaded water. Groups move along the open bottom during the day.
Good to know
The trade name Peru black cory comes from the heavy dark pigment spread across its back and upper sides. It kept its place in the genus Corydoras after the 2024 revision. The nape region is one of the features used to tell it from the similar Fowler's cory.
Did you know
The dark wash of pigment across its back gives the Peru black cory its trade name.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
Peru black 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.
Sondhi danio
Devario sondhii
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Wrestling halfbeak
Dermogenys pusilla
FreshwaterBrackish2.8 in (7 cm) · 25 gal (95 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Apple snail
Pomacea canaliculata
Freshwater5.9 in (15 cm) · 21 gal (80 L)64–81°F (18–27°C)
Black-lined loach
Ambastaia nigrolineata
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Congo tetra
Phenacogrammus interruptus
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Blue-eyed livebearer
Priapella intermedia
Freshwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Peru black cory need?
A Peru black cory needs at least 24 gal (90 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Peru black cory need?
A Peru black cory is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
How big does a Peru black cory get?
An adult Peru black cory reaches about 2.6 in (6.5 cm).
Does a Peru black cory need a group?
Yes. A Peru black cory is a shoaling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Related species
2.6 in (6.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Fuller's cory
Corydoras fulleri
2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.6 in (6.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Ourastigma cory
Corydoras ourastigma
2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.8 in (7 cm)26 gal (100 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Fowler's cory
Corydoras fowleri
2.8 in (7 cm) · 26 gal (100 L)
2.8 in (7 cm)30 gal (115 L)73–77°F (23–25°C)Long nosed arched cory
Corydoras narcissus
2.8 in (7 cm) · 30 gal (115 L)
2.8 in (7 cm)22 gal (85 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Pastaza cory
Corydoras pastazensis
2.8 in (7 cm) · 22 gal (85 L)
2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Northern longnose cory
Corydoras septentrionalis
2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)