TankBud

Weitzman's cory

Hoplisoma weitzmani

Also known as Corydoras weitzmani, Two-saddle cory

FreshwaterFish

Weitzman's cory (Hoplisoma weitzmani)
NasserHalaweh · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–79°F
22–26°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
2.4 in
6 cm
Minimum tank
20 gal
75 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Shoaling
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Egg layer · Medium
Rarity
Common
Family
Callichthyidae
Origin
Rio Madre de Dios drainage, southern Peru (Amazon basin)

Overview

Weitzman's cory is a peaceful cory that forages in a group along the bottom of a soft-water tank. It suits a keeper with a little experience.

Did you know

Weitzman's cory earned a reputation among collectors as a holy grail cory. For years it was rare and hard to find in the trade, since wild stock barely turned up. Committed breeders have since worked out how to spawn it at home.

Caring for the Weitzman's cory

Keep Weitzman's cories in a group of at least six, and eight or more is better, or they turn shy and stressed. Give them 20 gal (75 L) or more, with fine sand on the bottom or very smooth fine gravel at most. Sharp substrate wears down their delicate barbels.

Add some shade from plants or driftwood. Leave a small air gap above the waterline so they can reach the surface for air.

Keep the water soft, at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Long spells above about 27°C wear on them. They are sensitive to nitrate, so do regular partial water changes and keep the substrate clean.

Feed sinking pellets and frozen foods, with the occasional live treat that reaches the bottom. They are peaceful bottom foragers and safe with other community fish.

Females grow a little larger than males. They are egg layers, and cooler water around 72°F (22°C) with very soft, near-neutral conditions helps trigger spawning. Breeding them is a moderate challenge that dedicated keepers manage with patience.

Good to know

Weitzman's cory is a bottom-dwelling catfish in the family Callichthyidae. It is listed under Corydoras weitzmani and now also placed in the genus Hoplisoma. Like other Corydoras, it gulps air at the surface and passes it through its gut to absorb oxygen.

In the wild

Weitzman's cory comes from the Rio Madre de Dios drainage in southern Peru, part of the upper Amazon basin. Its home streams are soft and slightly acidic to neutral, and they run a touch cooler than typical tropical water.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Weitzman'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.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a Weitzman's cory need?

A Weitzman's cory needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Weitzman's cory need?

A Weitzman's cory is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a Weitzman's cory eat?

A Weitzman's cory eats sinking pellets and frozen foods. Give it the occasional live treat as well, as long as it reaches the bottom.

How big does a Weitzman's cory get?

An adult Weitzman's cory reaches about 2.4 in (6 cm).

Does a Weitzman's cory need a group?

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

How can you tell a male Weitzman's cory from a female?

Female Weitzman's cories grow a little larger than the males.

How does a Weitzman's cory breed?

Weitzman's cories are egg layers. Cooler water around 72°F (22°C) with very soft, near-neutral conditions helps trigger spawning, and dedicated keepers manage it with patience.

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