Santa Cruz cory
Hoplisoma cruziense
Also known as Corydoras cruziensis, Bolivian mosaic cory
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–81°F (23–27°C)
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 2 in (5 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 16 gal (60 L)
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Shoaling
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Origin
- Rio Madeira drainage lowlands, Santa Cruz, Bolivia
- Family
- Callichthyidae
Overview
An agreeable rare cory: a shoal of six in 60 liters takes prepared sinking foods immediately and shrugs at moderate water chemistry. It has been bred in captivity along standard cory lines, with cool water changes prompting eggs on glass and broad leaves. Bolivian imports are sporadic, so captive-bred groups are the sustainable route.
In the wild
The Santa Cruz cory comes from Bolivian lowland streams in the upper Madeira drainage, where sandy creeks wind through forest and savanna. It handles the region's milder temperatures well. Keep it over sand with plant cover at 23 to 27 degrees Celsius and pH 6.0 to 7.5.
Good to know
Described by Joachim Knaack in 2002 from Bolivia's Santa Cruz department, this species reaches about 5 centimeters and is listed as Hoplisoma cruziensis in the 2024 revision. It wears an attractive broken-line mosaic over the flanks, and Bolivian populations show subtle pattern differences between drainages.
Did you know
Its describer Joachim Knaack was a physician who spent his retirement describing Bolivian corys, and this one carries his adopted home region's name.
Tank mates
Santa Cruz cory is a peaceful, shoaling species that keeps to the bottom. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.
Peruvian tetra
Hyphessobrycon peruvianusFreshwater1.6 in (4 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Red-tail dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma erythruraFreshwater2.2 in (5.5 cm)16 gal (60 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Loreto tetra
Hyphessobrycon loretoensisFreshwater1.4 in (3.5 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Golden dwarf cichlid
Nannacara anomalaFreshwater3.1 in (8 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Punctatus cory
Corydoras punctatusFreshwater2.4 in (6 cm)16 gal (60 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Cardinal tetra
Paracheirodon axelrodiFreshwater1.8 in (4.5 cm)16 gal (60 L)73–84°F (23–29°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Santa Cruz cory need?
A Santa Cruz cory needs at least 16 gal (60 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH do Santa Cruz cory need?
Santa Cruz cory are comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
How big do Santa Cruz cory get?
An adult Santa Cruz cory reaches about 2 in (5 cm).
Do Santa Cruz cory need a group?
Yes. Santa Cruz cory are a shoaling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Freshwater fish · Corydoras · Schooling fish · Community fish · Bottom dwellers
Keeping Santa Cruz cory?
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Related species
Blackstripe cory
Hoplisoma bondiFreshwater2 in (5 cm)15 gal (55 L)70–79°F (21–26°C)
Dirty Bandit Cory
Hoplisoma loxozonumFreshwater2 in (5 cm)16 gal (60 L)70–75°F (21–24°C)
Duplicate cory
Hoplisoma duplicareumFreshwater2 in (5 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Fairy cory
Hoplisoma atropersonatumFreshwater2 in (5 cm)16 gal (60 L)70–81°F (21–27°C)
False bandit cory
Hoplisoma meliniFreshwater2 in (5 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Loreto cory
Hoplisoma loretoenseFreshwater2 in (5 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–77°F (22–25°C)