Three Line Corydoras
Corydoras trilineatus
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 5.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 40 litres
- Temperature
- 22–26 °C
Species profile
Tail Spot Pygmy Corydoras
Corydoras hastatus
Common names: Tail Spot Pygmy Corydoras, Tail-spot Pygmy Cory, Micro Catfish, Pygmy Cory, Pygmy Corydoras
Recognized speciesCorydoras
Adult size
Up to 3.2 cm
Up to 3.2 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- A peaceful community tank with similar-sized fish
Think carefully if
- You only want to keep one or two, because this fish needs a group of 6 or more
A tiny cory, only about 3 cm long, with a dark spot at the base of the tail. Keep a group of at least 6 in 54 litres or more.
Appearance and Identification
A tiny cory, only about 3 cm long, with a dark spot at the base of the tail. Unlike most corys, it spends much of its time swimming in open water as a shoal.
Check the scientific name when buying, as common names vary between sellers and countries.
Females are larger and rounder, and they look broader when viewed from above.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 220–270 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 50–75 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 54 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 60 cm
- Minimum group size
- 6
- Recommended group size
- 10
- Activity level
- Moderate
- Flow preference
- Low to moderate
- Planting preference
- Moderately planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- Moderate
Use a soft sand bottom, because rough gravel can wear down its barbels, and keep the water clean. It sometimes darts to the surface for air, which is normal.
Behaviour and Tankmates
A peaceful, sociable bottom-dweller that spends the day rooting through the sand in a group.
Keep a group of at least 6, and more if you can.
Not territorial.
An ideal community fish, with small, peaceful fish that like similar water. It does not eat algae or clean the tank, so it needs its own food.
Water Parameters
Fairly tolerant of different water, if it is clean and stable.
Parameter caveat
Keep up regular water changes, and acclimatise new fish slowly.
Feeding
- Diet types
- Omnivore
- Feeding frequency
- Daily
- Preferred foods
- Sinking pellets or wafersFeed after lights-out if faster fish take everything first.
- Frozen bloodworm and brine shrimpOffer several times a week.
- Blanched vegetablesCourgette or cucumber add variety for fish that graze.
Eats small invertebrates in the wild. Feed sinking foods that reach the bottom.
Feed small amounts, and remove anything left after a few minutes.
Breeding
- Breeding type
- Egg Scatterer
- Breeding difficulty
- Easy
- Parental care
- None
- Baby foods
- InfusoriaNeeded for the first days, because most fry are very small.
- Newly hatched brine shrimpIntroduce as soon as the fry can take it.
An egg scatterer with no parental care. Adults eat eggs and fry, so use a separate tank with fine plants, moss or mesh on the bottom, and remove the adults after spawning. The fry need very small foods at first.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, South America, Uruguay
- Natural habitat
- Floodplain, Lake, Swamp
- Aquarium contexts
- Planted Aquarium
- Audience level
- Beginner
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Corydoras
- Family
- Callichthyidae
- Species group
- Corydoras, Fish
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Xingu Corydoras
Corydoras xinguensis
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 3.7 cm
- Minimum tank
- 65 litres
- Temperature
- 22–26 °C
Adolfos Catfish
Hoplisoma adolfoi
- Care level
- Advanced
- Adult size
- 4–5.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 75 litres
- Temperature
- 22–27 °C
Agassiz’s Corydoras
Brochis agassizii
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 5–6.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 75 litres
- Temperature
- 22–27 °C