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Contents
Overview
The peppered cory is one of the corydoras with the longest history in the hobby; it was among the first tropical fish bred in aquariums back in the 19th century. It grows to about 2.5 inches (6-7 cm) and has a greenish-gray body splashed with irregular dark blotches, like a dusting of pepper, plus a metallic sheen on the sides. A long-finned variety is also available.
It comes from southern Brazil, Uruguay and the Río de la Plata basin in Argentina, where the water is cooler than in the Amazon. That makes it one of the few corys that prefers moderate temperatures. Hardy, peaceful and easy to breed, it is a great choice for beginners.
Care and tank setup
A group of six or more does well in a 20-gallon (80-litre) tank with plenty of floor space. Like every cory, it needs soft, fine sand to sift through without damaging its barbels, and a clean bottom. Use a cycled tank with a filter; if your home drops below 64 °F (18 °C) in winter, add a heater set on the low side.
- Temperature: the sweet spot is 68-73 °F (20-23 °C). Keeping it at 81-82 °F year-round shortens its life.
- Aquascape: open sand, hardy plants, driftwood and a cave or two.
- Tankmates: fish that like temperate or cooler tropical water, such as danios, platies, lemon tetras, rasboras and shrimp.
A common mistake is mixing it with discus, rams or other fish that need very warm water. It is not a pond fish either, and should never be released into the wild.
Feeding
A bottom-dwelling omnivore, it eats sinking wafers and pellets, flakes that drift down and frozen foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp or daphnia. Small worms are a favorite. Spread food over several spots so the whole group gets some, and remove leftovers before they foul the sand.
Breeding
This is one of the easiest corys to breed. Cooler water changes often trigger courtship: the male positions himself in front of the female in the classic T-position, and she sticks the eggs to the glass or plants. The parents give no care and may eat the eggs, so move them out. The fry take baby brine shrimp and fine powdered food.
Compatible tank mates
Species from our database that share water parameters, size and temperament with the Peppered cory. Calculated from the data in each profile.
Tiger barb Puntigrus tetrazona 26 gal (100 L) · 72–79 °F (22–26 °C) 
Zebra danio Danio rerio 16 gal (60 L) · 64–77 °F (18–25 °C) 
Guppy Poecilia reticulata 14 gal (54 L) · 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) 
Platy Xiphophorus maculatus 16 gal (60 L) · 68–79 °F (20–26 °C) 
Harlequin rasbora Trigonostigma heteromorpha 16 gal (60 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Neon tetra Paracheirodon innesi 16 gal (60 L) · 68–79 °F (20–26 °C) 
Swordtail Xiphophorus hellerii 32 gal (120 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Bristlenose pleco Ancistrus sp. 26 gal (100 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Nerite snail Neritina natalensis 5 gal (20 L) · 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) 
Horned nerite snail Clithon corona 5 gal (20 L) · 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) 
Common goldfish Carassius auratus 79 gal (300 L) · 50–75 °F (10–24 °C) 
Amano shrimp Caridina multidentata 11 gal (40 L) · 64–82 °F (18–28 °C) Check the compatibility of your whole tank →
What not to keep it with
Popular species you shouldn’t house with the Peppered cory, and why.
- Discus: incompatible temperatures
- Clown loach: incompatible temperatures
- Oscar: incompatible temperatures, one may eat the other due to size, incompatible temperaments
- Ram cichlid: incompatible temperatures
Recommended equipment
What you need to keep the Peppered cory healthy, checked against Amazon stock.
Frequently asked questions
How many liters does a Peppered cory need?
At least about 80 liters for a group of at least 6 fish. More space always helps keep the water stable.
What water temperature does the Peppered cory need?
Between 18 and 24 °C, with a pH of 6 to 8.
What fish can live with the Peppered cory?
Based on water, size and temperament, it fits with species such as Tiger barb, Zebra danio, Guppy, Platy and Harlequin rasbora. Use our compatibility calculator to check your whole tank.
Can the Peppered cory be kept with shrimp?
Yes: it usually won’t eat adult shrimp, though some shrimplets may get picked off. A tank with plenty of moss gives the babies cover.
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