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Tukano cory

Hoplisoma tukano

Also known as Corydoras tukano, C64

FreshwaterFish

Tukano cory (Hoplisoma tukano)

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
5.2–6.8
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
Family
Callichthyidae
Origin
Rio Tiquie, upper Rio Negro drainage, Amazonas, Brazil

Overview

The Tukano cory is a peaceful cory that shoals along the bottom of a soft-water community tank. It is a step up from the easiest fish.

Did you know

The Tukano communities of its home river helped researchers monitor this cory. It was one of the first cories whose trade was studied with the people who actually catch it.

Caring for the Tukano cory

Keep Tukano cories in a group of six or more, in a tank of 16 gal (60 L) or larger. Give them a bottom of fine sand with some leaves and shade. They are safe with other peaceful community fish.

They need soft, acidic water at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C), with a pH of 5.2 to 6.8. They eat sinking prepared and frozen foods eagerly.

Tukano cories have been bred repeatedly in captivity. Soft, acidic water and cool water changes are the trigger for spawning, and breeding them is a moderate challenge. Captive breeding takes pressure off the wild populations in the Tiquie.

Good to know

The Tukano cory was described in 2003 by Britto and Lima, who named it for the Tukano people of the Tiquie. Before that, it had circulated in the hobby as C64. The 2024 revision lists it as Hoplisoma tukano. Its warm orange body with bold black saddles makes it one of the prettiest cories of the Rio Negro.

In the wild

The Tukano cory comes from the Rio Tiquie in the upper Rio Negro system of Amazonas, Brazil. This blackwater river flows through indigenous Tukano territory. There the cory shoals over sand and litter in warm, soft, acidic water.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Tukano 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.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a Tukano cory need?

A Tukano cory needs at least 16 gal (60 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Tukano cory need?

A Tukano cory is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 5.2–6.8.

What does a Tukano cory eat?

A Tukano cory eats sinking prepared and frozen foods, and it takes them eagerly.

How big does a Tukano cory get?

An adult Tukano cory reaches about 2 in (5 cm).

Does a Tukano cory need a group?

Yes. A Tukano cory is a shoaling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

How does a Tukano cory breed?

Tukano cories have been bred repeatedly in captivity, and breeding them is a moderate challenge. Soft, acidic water and cool water changes trigger them to spawn.

Related species