Prionotos cory
Scleromystax prionotos
Also known as Corydoras prionotos, Prionotos catfish
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 68–77°F
- 20–25°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 2.4 in
- 6 cm
- Minimum tank
- 29 gal
- 110 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Shoaling
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Callichthyidae
- Origin
- Coastal rivers of southeastern Brazil, including the Rio Doce system.
Overview
The Prionotos cory is a peaceful, shoaling cory relative that lives on the bottom of the tank. It is best with a little experience.
Did you know
The Prionotos cory and its Scleromystax relatives come from cooler subtropical rivers rather than the warm Amazon.
Caring for the Prionotos cory
Keep Prionotos cories in a group of six or more, in a tank of at least 29 gal (110 L). Give them smooth sand and a gentle flow.
Keep the water on the cool side, at 68 to 77°F (20 to 25°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. They prefer steady, oxygen-rich water. Feed sinking pellets and small frozen foods, such as bloodworm and daphnia.
Prionotos cories are peaceful and prefer calm tank mates. Males are more strongly marked than females, and mature males grow small bristles on the sides of the snout. These bristle-like odontodes are shared with the related banded cory. Breeding them is moderately difficult.
Good to know
The Prionotos cory belongs to Scleromystax, a genus of cory relatives in the family Callichthyidae. It was once placed in Corydoras, as Corydoras prionotos.
In the wild
The Prionotos cory lives in coastal rivers of southeastern Brazil, including the Rio Doce system. It forages over sand and gravel in flowing, well-oxygenated water. Groups keep to shaded areas near wood and roots.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Prionotos 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)
Rakhine danio
Devario xyrops
Freshwater3.7 in (9.5 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Blackwing hatchetfish
Carnegiella marthae
Freshwater1.4 in (3.5 cm) · 30 gal (115 L)68–82°F (20–28°C)
Green Borneo sucker
Gastromyzon lepidogaster
Freshwater4.7 in (12 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Prionotos cory need?
A Prionotos cory needs at least 29 gal (110 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Prionotos cory need?
A Prionotos cory is comfortable at 68–77°F (20–25°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
What does a Prionotos cory eat?
A Prionotos cory eats sinking pellets and small frozen foods, such as bloodworm and daphnia.
How big does a Prionotos cory get?
An adult Prionotos cory reaches about 2.4 in (6 cm).
Does a Prionotos cory need a group?
Yes. A Prionotos cory is a shoaling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
How can you tell a male Prionotos cory from a female?
Males are more strongly marked than females. Mature males also grow small bristles on the sides of the snout.
Related species
3.5 in (9 cm)44 gal (165 L)64–70°F (18–21°C)Sailfin cory
Scleromystax macropterus
3.5 in (9 cm) · 44 gal (165 L)
3.9 in (10 cm)40 gal (150 L)66–75°F (19–24°C)Banded cory
Scleromystax barbatus
3.9 in (10 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)
2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)70–79°F (21–26°C)Adolfo's cory
Hoplisoma adolfoi
2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.4 in (6 cm)16 gal (60 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Ancestor cory
Hoplisoma noxium
2.4 in (6 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)
2.4 in (6 cm)16 gal (60 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)Carla's cory
Hoplisoma carlae
2.4 in (6 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)
2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Concolor cory
Hoplisoma concolor
2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)