Pretty cory

Care at a glance

Overview

Keep pretty cories in a group of six or more over soft sand in warm, soft, acidic water around 24 to 28 C. They do best in a shaded, tannin stained tank with calm tankmates. Feed sinking pellets and small frozen foods that reach the bottom.

In the wild

The pretty cory comes from the Rio Purus, where it lives in warm, soft, tannin stained blackwater. It forages over sand among leaf litter and roots. The species is found only in this river system, which keeps it scarce in the hobby.

Good to know

The scientific name means beautiful, and breeding males grow a very tall, sail like dorsal fin with a pale cream front ray. The 2024 revision placed the species in the genus Brochis as Brochis pulchra. It is one of the larger, more sought after blackwater cories.

Did you know

Breeding males raise a striking sail like dorsal fin tipped with a cream white front ray.

Related species

• 

  Black band cory

  Corydoras zygatus

  2.6 in (6.5 cm)21 gal (80 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Imitator cory

  Corydoras imitator

  2.6 in (6.5 cm)21 gal (80 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Peru black cory

  Corydoras semiaquilus

  2.6 in (6.5 cm)24 gal (90 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Spotted cory

  Corydoras ambiacus

  2.6 in (6.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)70–81°F (21–27°C)

• 

  Sterba's cory

  Corydoras sterbai

  2.6 in (6.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
• Bannertail cory

  Corydoras robineae

  2.6 in (6.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–79°F (23–26°C)