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Species profile

Albino Corydoras

Osteogaster aenea var. "Albino"

Common names: Albino Corydoras, Albino Bronze Corydoras, Albino Cory

Captive varietyCorydoras
Albino Corydoras (Osteogaster aenea var. "Albino")

Adult size

Up to 7 cm

Typical adult length 5.5–7 cm.

Up to 7 cm

Countries of origin

  • See all stock from Argentina
  • See all stock from Bolivia
  • See all stock from Brazil
  • See all stock from Colombia
  • See all stock from French Guiana
  • See all stock from Guyana
  • See all stock from Paraguay
  • See all stock from Peru
  • See all stock from Suriname
  • See all stock from Trinidad and Tobago
  • See all stock from Uruguay
  • See all stock from Venezuela

Good fit for your tank?

Good fit for

  • A peaceful community aquarium with a sandy bottom
  • A beginner willing to keep a real social group
  • A straightforward first Corydoradinae breeding project

Think carefully if

  • You want the fish to live on leftovers
  • The tank contains aggressive or predatory fish
  • Bright lighting and bare surroundings leave the group exposed

Albino Corydoras is a peaceful South American callichthyid catfish recognised by a cream to pink-white body, translucent fins, and red eyes caused by albinism. It should be kept in a same-species group over fine sand in clean, oxygen-rich freshwater.

Appearance and Identification

The albino form of the Bronze Corydoras has a pale ivory to pinkish body, translucent fins and red or pink eyes. The armour plates remain visible under the reduced pigment, and well-fed adults often show a soft gold or peach cast.

Identify this profile by the combination of a cream to pink-white body, translucent fins, and red eyes caused by albinism. Older sources commonly list this fish as Corydoras aeneus; the current profile follows the accepted or revised placement Osteogaster aenea var. "Albino". Colour alone can be unreliable in stressed, juvenile, or poorly conditioned fish, so body shape, snout length, fin pattern, and provenance should also be checked.

Females are normally larger and noticeably broader through the abdomen, while males stay slimmer and often have a more pointed dorsal fin. Albino, black or long-fin colour and fin traits do not by themselves confirm sex.

Tank Requirements

Suggested filter
About 400–500 litres an hour
Suggested heater
About 100–150 W for this tank
Minimum tank volume
100 litres
Minimum tank length
90 cm
Minimum group size
6
Recommended group size
8
Activity level
Moderate
Flow preference
Moderate
Planting preference
Moderately planted
Hiding places
Yes
Lid recommended
Yes
Jumping risk
Low

Keep a social group over smooth sand with open feeding space, plants or wood for shelter, reliable filtration and access to the surface. Domestic strains are adaptable, but they still need clean substrate and direct feeding rather than relying on leftovers.

Behaviour and Tankmates

A peaceful, social bottom forager that is usually confident in a proper group. It spends much of the day searching for food and resting with companions, but it does not live on waste or clean the aquarium.

Keep at least 6 of the same species or coded population, with 8 or more preferred where space permits. A mixed collection of single corys does not fully replace a proper same-species group.

It is not territorial. Males may briefly chase one another or follow females during courtship, but sustained aggression is unusual when the group has adequate floor space.

Suitable for a peaceful community with tank mates that allow sinking food to reach the bottom. Avoid aggressive cichlids, large predators and severe food competition; eggs, fry and very small shrimp are not guaranteed safe.

Check tankmates for this species

Water Parameters

Temperature
21–28 °C
pH
6–8
GH
3–20
KH
1–10
TDS
60–300
Stability importance
Important

Captive populations are adaptable from soft acidic water to moderately hard neutral or mildly alkaline water. Avoid sudden changes despite the broad nominal range.

Parameter caveat
Acclimate slowly to changes in temperature, pH, and conductivity. Corydoradine catfish periodically gulp atmospheric air, so the water surface must remain accessible. Warm water holds less oxygen and requires stronger aeration.

Feeding

Diet types
Insectivore, Omnivore, Scavenger
Feeding frequency
Daily
Preferred foods
  • Quality sinking catfish pelletUse a small sinking pellet or wafer as a staple. Feed enough for every fish to reach food after faster midwater fish have eaten.
  • Frozen or live daphnia and cyclopsSmall crustacean prey supports natural foraging and is useful for conditioning breeding groups.
  • Frozen bloodworm, black mosquito larvae, or tubifexOffer clean, appropriately sized portions in rotation rather than as the only food.
  • Soft vegetable-based waferProvides dietary variety, although these catfish are not algae-eating cleanup animals and still require protein-rich food.

Use quality sinking pellets or tablets as the staple, with varied frozen or live invertebrate foods and some plant-based ingredients. Target-feed the group and remove excess food rather than treating the fish as scavengers.

Feed after faster surface and midwater fish have taken their share, and confirm that every individual reaches food. Use small portions once or twice daily, remove persistent leftovers, and vary prepared and frozen or live foods.

Breeding

Breeding type
Egg Layer
Breeding difficulty
Easy
Breeding temperature
24 °C
Breeding pH
6.8
Brood or egg count
Commonly 100 to 300 eggs from a mature female.
Incubation
4 days
Parental care
None
Baby foods
  • Newly hatched brine shrimpA primary growth food after fry have absorbed the yolk sac; feed small rinsed portions several times daily.
  • MicrowormsUseful for newly feeding fry that remain close to the substrate.
  • Vinegar eels or cultured infusoriaHelpful for the smallest species and uneven broods during the first feeding stage.
  • Fine powdered fry foodUse sparingly as a supplement and siphon uneaten material to protect water quality.

Bronze Corydoras and their domestic forms are commonly bred. Condition a mixed group, then use a substantial clean water change to encourage the T-position spawning sequence; protect the adhesive eggs from adults and provide fine first foods for fry.

Habitat and Origin

Geographic origin
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Captive-Developed, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, South America, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela
Natural habitat
Freshwater River, Freshwater Stream, Sand/Mud Substrate
Aquarium contexts
Breeding Aquarium, Freshwater Aquarium, Freshwater Community, Planted Aquarium
Audience level
Beginner

Classification

Profile type
Captive variety
Genus
Osteogaster
Family
Callichthyidae
Species group
Corydoras, Fish
Previous scientific names
Corydoras aeneus, Name supplied in older aquarium literature or trade usage. The current profile uses Osteogaster aenea var. "Albino" under the revised Corydoradinae classification.

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