Blue Cory (Corydoras sp.) in a freshwater aquarium
Easy carePeacefulBottom dwellerSouth America / Africa

Blue Cory

Corydoras sp.

The Blue Cory (Corydoras sp.) is a peaceful fish that's easy to keep. Give it a tank of at least 75 litres (20 US gallons), water held at 68-73°F, and a pH of 6-7.8.

Care levelEasy
TemperamentPeaceful
Min tank size19.8 US gal
pH range6-7.8
Temperature68-73°F
Max size2.6 in (6.5 cm)
Captive lifespan5-10 years
SchoolingNo
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Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.

Natural distribution

Mostly South America / Africa

  • South America
  • Africa

Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.

Blue Cory Tank Setup

Plan for at least 75 litres (20 US gallons) with soft sand or smooth, rounded gravel - sharp substrate wears down their delicate barbels. Keep the water at 68-73°F with a pH around 6-7.8.

What Do Blue Corydoras Eat?

They're bottom feeders, so give them sinking wafers, tablets, or frozen treats like bloodworm once the lights go down. Flakes that never reach the bottom leave them hungry even when the tank looks well-fed.

Blue Cory Tank Mates

The Blue Cory is peaceful, which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. Good matches come down to the whole stocking list working together - temperature, tank size, and temperament - not any single label. Before you buy, run your full stocking list through our stocking calculator. It weighs temperament, adult size, and water needs together, which a single species page can't do on its own.

Are Blue Corydoras Good for Beginners?

Reasonable early choice after cycling. Buy after the tank has stable ammonia and nitrite readings, not the same weekend you fill it.

Blue Cory - frequently asked questions

What size tank do Blue Corydoras need?

Blue Corydoras need a tank of at least 75 litres (20 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.

What water parameters do Blue Corydoras need?

Keep them at 68-73°F with a pH of 6-7.8, steady rather than chased to an exact figure. In a cycled tank, ammonia and nitrite should both read 0 ppm, with nitrate kept low through regular water changes.

What do Blue Corydoras eat?

Blue Corydoras are bottom feeders. Give them sinking wafers, tablets, and frozen foods that settle on the substrate, ideally after the lights go off. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and remove anything they don't eat.

Are Blue Corydoras good for beginners?

Yes - Blue Corydoras are a reasonable beginner fish once the tank is cycled and parameters are stable. Add them after ammonia and nitrite read 0 ppm, not the same day you fill the tank.

Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.

Fish to avoid mixing with Blue Corydoras

These well-known species are commonly sold alongside this fish but are not recommended tank mates - verify before purchasing.

  • OscarPredator - Oscar will eat or injure smaller tank mates
  • Akar BettaPredator - Akar Betta will eat or injure smaller tank mates
  • Common GoldfishGoldfish - prefer cooler, harder water that tropical fish cannot tolerate