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Simulatus cory

Corydoras simulatus

Also known as Long-nosed bandit cory, Meta long-snout cory, Olga Cory

FreshwaterFish
Simulatus cory (Corydoras simulatus)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–81°F (23–27°C)
pH
5.8–7.2
Adult size
2.4 in (6 cm)
Minimum tank
20 gal (75 L)
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Shoaling
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Hard
Rarity
Rare
Origin
Upper Rio Meta drainage, Colombia
Family
Callichthyidae

Overview

Six or more over sand in 75 liters, with its short-nosed twin if you enjoy the visual pun. It feeds on the standard menu, digging deeper than metae does. Breeding is rarely reported. The mimic pair makes one of the hobby's neatest biology demonstrations in a single tank.

In the wild

The simulatus cory lives in the upper Meta drainage of Colombia, sharing sandy stream beds with the masked cory it famously imitates. Keep it over deep fine sand with wood cover at 23 to 27 degrees Celsius and pH 5.8 to 7.2 in clean, flowing water.

Good to know

Weitzman and Nijssen named this species simulatus, the imitator, in 1970, because it wears almost exactly the black bandit mask and body stripe of Corydoras metae while being a long-snouted species from a different lineage. It reaches about 6 centimeters and remains in strict-sense Corydoras in the 2024 revision.

Did you know

It is one half of a famous mimicry pair: in the same Colombian streams, this long-nose and the short-nosed masked cory wear the same uniform, and the reason mimic pairs exist is still argued about.

Tank mates

Simulatus cory is a peaceful, shoaling species that keeps to the bottom. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a Simulatus cory need?

A Simulatus cory needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH do Simulatus cory need?

Simulatus cory are comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 5.8–7.2.

How big do Simulatus cory get?

An adult Simulatus cory reaches about 2.4 in (6 cm).

Do Simulatus cory need a group?

Yes. Simulatus 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

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