Pygmy cory

Gastrodermus pygmaeus

Also known as Corydoras pygmaeus

FreshwaterFish

Pygmy cory (Gastrodermus pygmaeus) — The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature: 72–79°F; 22–26°C
pH: 6.0–7.5
Adult size: 1.3 in; 3.3 cm
Minimum tank: 13 gal; 50 L

Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Hard
Rarity: Rare
Family: Callichthyidae
Origin: Brazil

Overview

Peaceful and very social, so keep a sizeable group, ideally ten or more, in a tank of about 50 liters or larger. They shoal in the mid water as much as on the bottom. Keep them in low to mid 20s C with a pH of 6 to 7.5, and a soft substrate with gentle flow. Feed tiny foods such as micro pellets, crushed flake, and small live or frozen items like baby brine shrimp. Best kept with other small, gentle fish.

In the wild

Pygmy corys come from slow, clear tributaries in Brazil, often over sand or mud among plants and leaf litter. Recreate that with a soft bottom, gentle flow, and plenty of cover. Because they are tiny, keep them away from anything large enough to eat them.

Good to know

A member of the Callichthyidae, the armored catfish, this is one of the smallest corys at around 3.3 cm. Unlike most of its relatives, it spends much of its time up in the water column rather than on the bottom. Spawning is on the tricky side. It is not listed as endangered, though wild habitat loss is a concern.

Did you know

Pygmy corys hover and dart through open water in a tight little group, which is unusual for a cory. That mid-water shoaling is why they read more like a tiny schooling fish than a typical bottom catfish.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

Pygmy cory is a peaceful, schooling 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.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator