Sterba's cory
Hoplisoma sterbai
Also known as Corydoras sterbai
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–82°F
- 24–28°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
- Easy
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Callichthyidae
- Origin
- Bolivia, Brazil
Overview
Keep it in a school of six or more on the bottom of a tank around 75 liters or larger. Water should be soft to neutral, pH 6 to 7.5, and on the warmer side, 24 to 28 C, which suits it better than cooler corys. Feed sinking pellets, frozen foods, and the occasional algae wafer. It is completely peaceful and a good fit for warm-water community tanks.
In the wild
Sterba's cory comes from the Guapore river basin on the Bolivia and Brazil border. It lives over soft sand and silt in warm, slow tributaries, picking through the bottom for food. Set up a tank with a fine sand substrate so it can sift without scratching its barbels, plus shade from plants or wood. It likes things warm, mid to high 20s C.
Good to know
This is a small armored catfish in the family Callichthyidae, reaching about 6.5 cm as an adult. Like other Corydoras it has bony plates and stiff fin spines. It is an egg-layer that spawns in the classic cory T-position, with the female carrying eggs in her pelvic fins before sticking them to surfaces. With good care it can live well past five years.
Did you know
Sterba's cory is one of the few corys that genuinely prefers tropical heat, which is why it pairs so well with discus and other warm-water fish that most corys can't handle long term. The spotted pattern on its head and the orange in its pectoral fins make it easy to tell apart from look-alike species.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
Sterba's 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.
Blue panchax
Aplocheilus panchax
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Vampire shrimp
Atya gabonensis
Freshwater5.1 in (13 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Honey gourami
Trichogaster chuna
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Clown pleco
Panaqolus maccus
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Kuekenthal's halfbeak
Hemirhamphodon kuekenthali
Freshwater3.3 in (8.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Marble wood shrimp
Atya scabra
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Sterba's cory need?
A Sterba's cory needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Sterba's cory need?
A Sterba's cory is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
How big does a Sterba's cory get?
An adult Sterba's cory reaches about 2.6 in (6.5 cm).
Does a Sterba's cory need a group?
Yes. A Sterba's 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)73–81°F (23–27°C)Grant's cory
Hoplisoma granti
2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.8 in (7 cm)21 gal (80 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Peppered cory
Hoplisoma paleatum
2.8 in (7 cm) · 21 gal (80 L)
2.8 in (7 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Schwartz's catfish
Hoplisoma schwartzi
2.8 in (7 cm) · 20 gal (75 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)