Spotted cory
Brochis ambiacus
Also known as Corydoras ambiacus, longnose cory
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 70–81°F
- 21–27°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 2.6 in
- 6.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 20 gal
- 75 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Shoaling
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Very rare
- Family
- Callichthyidae
- Origin
- Peru
Overview
The spotted cory is a peaceful catfish that forages over the sandy bottom with its barbels. It is a step up from the easiest fish.
Did you know
The spotted cory is one of several near-identical spotted cories from the western Amazon. It is easiest to confuse with Corydoras agassizii, but it tends to wear many small, evenly scattered spots. Its lookalike carries larger marks set in rows.
Caring for the spotted cory
Keep spotted cories in a group of at least six, in a tank of 20 gal (75 L) or larger. Give them a soft sand bed with open foraging space, plus driftwood, dried leaves and shaded planting.
Keep the water clean and gently filtered, at 70 to 81°F (21 to 27°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Regular water changes keep this cory in good condition. Feed sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm and daphnia, and a little wafer, and check that the food reaches the floor.
Spotted cories are peaceful and mix well with small, calm community fish. Reliable aquarium spawning is not well documented for this species.
Good to know
The spotted cory is an armored catfish in the family Callichthyidae. It has a silvery body with a dark blotch in the dorsal fin. Its species name, ambiacus, refers to the Rio Ambyiacu.
In the wild
The spotted cory comes from the Rio Ambyiacu and the neighboring upper Amazon in Peru. It lives over sand in warm, soft, slightly acidic water.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The spotted 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)
Amazon molly
Poecilia formosa
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)68–82°F (20–28°C)
Orange-finned danio
Danio kyathit
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Agassiz's dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma agassizii
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–84°F (22–29°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a spotted cory need?
A spotted cory needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a spotted cory need?
A spotted cory is comfortable at 70–81°F (21–27°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
What does a spotted cory eat?
A spotted cory eats sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm and daphnia, and a little wafer. Check that the food reaches the floor, where it can find it.
How big does a spotted cory get?
An adult spotted cory reaches about 2.6 in (6.5 cm).
Does a spotted cory need a group?
Yes. A spotted cory is a shoaling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Related species
2.6 in (6.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Amanda Jane's cory
Brochis amandajanea
2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.6 in (6.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–79°F (23–26°C)Bannertail cory
Brochis robineae
2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.6 in (6.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Bethan's cory
Brochis bethanae
2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.6 in (6.5 cm)21 gal (80 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Imitator cory
Brochis imitator
2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 21 gal (80 L)
2.6 in (6.5 cm)24 gal (90 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Pretty cory
Brochis pulchra
2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)
2.6 in (6.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Seuss's cory
Brochis seussi
2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)