Venezuelan orange cory
Osteogaster aenea
Also known as Corydoras venezuelanus, Venezuelan cory, Orange Venezuelan cory, Red Sailfin Cory
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 68–79°F
- 20–26°C
- pH
- 6.5–7.5
- Adult size
- 2.4 in
- 6 cm
- Minimum tank
- 20 gal
- 75 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Shoaling
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Easy
- Rarity
- Very common
- Family
- Callichthyidae
- Origin
- Northern Venezuela in the Lake Valencia basin and nearby Orinoco tributaries, outside the Amazon.
Overview
The Venezuelan orange cory is a peaceful cory that spends its time on the bottom of a community tank. It is easy to keep and a good first cory.
Did you know
Nearly all Venezuelan orange cories in shops are commercially bred. Their solid orange color deepens as they mature.
Caring for the Venezuelan orange cory
Keep Venezuelan orange cories in a group of six or more, in 20 gal (75 L) or larger. Give them a bottom of soft sand with open space to forage.
They tolerate a wide range and do well in soft to moderately hard water. Keep them at 68 to 79°F (20 to 26°C) with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. They take sinking pellets and frozen and live foods readily.
Venezuelan orange cories are safe with other peaceful community fish. Breeding them is easy.
Good to know
The Venezuelan orange cory is the naturally orange member of the bronze cory complex, closely tied to the common bronze cory. The 2024 revision placed it in the genus Osteogaster, and it may be listed as Osteogaster venezuelana. It is one of the few cories native to waters outside the Amazon basin.
In the wild
The Venezuelan orange cory comes from streams and rivers of northern Venezuela, including the Lake Valencia system and nearby Orinoco tributaries. These waters tend to run a little harder and cooler than typical rainforest tributaries. The fish forage over sand and fine gravel in loose groups.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Venezuelan orange 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)
Emperor tetra
Nematobrycon palmeri
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Rex halfbeak
Nomorhamphus rex
Freshwater2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Julii cory
Hoplisoma julii
Freshwater2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Venezuelan orange cory need?
A Venezuelan orange cory needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Venezuelan orange cory need?
A Venezuelan orange cory is comfortable at 68–79°F (20–26°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.
What does a Venezuelan orange cory eat?
A Venezuelan orange cory takes sinking pellets and frozen and live foods, and it eats them readily.
How big does a Venezuelan orange cory get?
An adult Venezuelan orange cory reaches about 2.4 in (6 cm).
Does a Venezuelan orange cory need a group?
Yes. A Venezuelan orange cory is a shoaling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Related species
2.4 in (6 cm)17 gal (65 L)68–73°F (20–23°C)Gold laser cory
Osteogaster melanotaenia
2.4 in (6 cm) · 17 gal (65 L)
2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Rust cory
Osteogaster rabauti
2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.6 in (6.5 cm)21 gal (80 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Black band cory
Osteogaster zygata
2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 21 gal (80 L)
2 in (5 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Horseman cory
Osteogaster eques
2 in (5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)
3 in (7.5 cm)17 gal (63 L)70–81°F (21–27°C)Bronze cory
Osteogaster aenea
3 in (7.5 cm) · 17 gal (63 L)
1.6 in (4 cm)15 gal (55 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Volcano cory
Osteogaster hephaestus
1.6 in (4 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)