Violet cory
Hoplisoma simile
Also known as Corydoras similis, Smudge-spot cory
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 70–81°F
- 21–27°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 2.2 in
- 5.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 12 gal
- 45 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Shoaling
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Egg scatterer · Medium
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Callichthyidae
- Origin
- Rio Madeira basin, Brazil (South America)
Overview
The violet cory is a peaceful, shoaling cory for the bottom of a community tank. It is an easy fish to keep, and a good pick for a first cory group.
Did you know
The violet cory gets confused with the julii cory in shops, because of its smudge spot and broken dark pattern. The two look alike as juveniles. A true julii has fine, separate spots on the head, while the violet cory grows a more connected, marbled pattern.
Caring for the violet cory
Keep violet cories in a group of at least six, and more if you can, in 12 gal (45 L) or larger. A bigger group makes them bolder and more active.
A planted tank with driftwood, roots and some leaf litter suits them. Give them soft sand they can dig their barbels into, since sharp or dirty gravel wears the barbels down and leads to infection.
Keep the water at 70 to 81°F (21 to 27°C) with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Violet cories are sensitive to dirty water and high nitrate, so stay on top of water quality. Keep nitrate under about 30 ppm and skip undergravel filtration.
They spend the day sifting sand for food. Feed sinking pellets and frozen foods such as bloodworm and daphnia, and let them pick over the substrate.
Violet cories are safe with shrimp and small peaceful fish, but avoid large or aggressive tank mates. They are egg scatterers with no parental care, and breeding them is moderately difficult. Never release aquarium fish into local waterways, and check your area's rules before keeping them.
Good to know
The violet cory, Hoplisoma simile, is a small armored catfish in the family Callichthyidae. It is also listed as Corydoras similis and sold as the smudge spot or false julii cory. A healthy fish can live several years. Like other cories, it can gulp air at the surface and pass it through its gut to take up oxygen.
In the wild
Violet cories come from the Rio Madeira basin in Brazil, from slow, soft-water tributaries in the western Amazon. The riverbed there is fine sand under driftwood and roots.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The violet 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)
Wandering snail
Ampullaceana balthica
Freshwater0.8 in (2 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)50–84°F (10–29°C)
Dwarf gourami
Trichogaster lalius
Freshwater3 in (7.5 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Pygmy hatchetfish
Carnegiella myersi
Freshwater1 in (2.5 cm) · 12 gal (45 L)73–79°F (23–26°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a violet cory need?
A violet cory needs at least 12 gal (45 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a violet cory need?
A violet cory is comfortable at 70–81°F (21–27°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
What does a violet cory eat?
A violet cory eats sinking pellets and frozen foods such as bloodworm and daphnia. It also picks over the substrate for food.
How big does a violet cory get?
An adult violet cory reaches about 2.2 in (5.5 cm).
Does a violet cory need a group?
Yes. A violet cory is a shoaling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
How does a violet cory breed?
Violet cories are egg scatterers and give their eggs no parental care. Breeding them is moderately difficult.
Related species
2.2 in (5.5 cm)16 gal (60 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Bluespotted cory
Hoplisoma melanistium
2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)
2.2 in (5.5 cm)16 gal (60 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Boeseman's cory
Hoplisoma boesemani
2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)
2.2 in (5.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Burgess's cory
Hoplisoma burgessi
2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.2 in (5.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)Julii cory
Hoplisoma julii
2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.2 in (5.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–79°F (23–26°C)Oiapoque cory
Hoplisoma oiapoquense
2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.2 in (5.5 cm)16 gal (60 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Sipaliwini cory
Hoplisoma sipaliwini
2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)