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
Keep this Scleromystax in a group of six or more over smooth sand in cooler water around 20 to 25 C with gentle flow. It prefers steadier, oxygen rich water and calm tankmates. Feed sinking pellets and small frozen foods such as bloodworm and daphnia.
In the wild
The prionotos cory lives in cooler coastal rivers of southeastern Brazil rather than the warm Amazon. It forages over sand and gravel in flowing, well oxygenated water. Groups keep to shaded areas near wood and roots.
Good to know
Scleromystax are cory relatives from cooler subtropical rivers, and this species was once placed in Corydoras as Corydoras prionotos. Like the banded cory, mature males grow bristle like odontodes on the sides of the snout. Males are also more strongly marked than females.
Did you know
Mature males grow small bristles on the sides of the snout, a trait shared with the related banded cory.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
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.
Striped panchax
Aplocheilus lineatus
Freshwater4.3 in (11 cm) · 30 gal (115 L)72–77°F (22–25°C)
Pacific molly
Poecilia butleri
Freshwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Vietnamese flower loach
Traccatichthys taeniatus
Freshwater5 in (12.6 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)64–77°F (18–25°C)
Silver hatchetfish
Gasteropelecus levis
Freshwater1.4 in (3.5 cm) · 30 gal (112 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
False rummynose tetra
Petitella georgiae
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)72–79°F (22–26°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.
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.
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)