Bronze corydoras
Corydoras aeneus · family Callichthyidae
The bronze corydoras (Corydoras aeneus) is a peaceful, bottom-dwelling catfish from South America that grows to about 2.8 inches and can live around 10 years. It's an easy fish to keep in a tank of 20 gallons or more, with a group of at least 5. The most important thing to know is that they need a soft, clean substrate like fine sand, because rough gravel can damage their sensitive barbels.
Edited by Marin Hale · last reviewed November 1, 2026 · How we check facts
What can live with a bronze corydoras?
Verdicts against every species in our database, from our compatibility rules. How verdicts work
| Verdict | Species | Why | Tank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good match | Angelfish | No problems found: water, size, fins and temperament all check out. | 30 gal+ |
| Good match | Betta fish | No problems found: water, size, fins and temperament all check out. | 20 gal+ |
| Good match | Another bronze corydoras | No problems found: water, size, fins and temperament all check out. | 20 gal+ |
| Good match | Ember tetra | No problems found: water, size, fins and temperament all check out. | 20 gal+ |
| Good match | Guppy | No problems found: water, size, fins and temperament all check out. | 20 gal+ |
| Good match | Neon tetra | No problems found: water, size, fins and temperament all check out. | 20 gal+ |
| Good match | Panda corydoras | No problems found: water, size, fins and temperament all check out. | 20 gal+ |
| Good match | Platy | No problems found: water, size, fins and temperament all check out. | 20 gal+ |
| Good match | Pygmy corydoras | No problems found: water, size, fins and temperament all check out. | 20 gal+ |
| Good match | Tiger barb | No problems found: water, size, fins and temperament all check out. | 30 gal+ |
| Good match | Zebra nerite snail | No problems found: water, size, fins and temperament all check out. | 20 gal+ |
| Maybe | Cherry shrimp | Bronze corydoras eat baby shrimp and may pick off adults. Dense plants and moss help a colony survive. | 20 gal+ |
| Maybe | Common goldfish | Adult common goldfish may eat small bronze corydoras. | 75 gal+ |
| Maybe | Fancy goldfish | Bronze corydoras tolerate cooler water, but goldfish grow much larger, produce heavy waste and eat the food meant for bottom dwellers. Most keepers house them separately; if you try it, use a large tank and sinking food at lights-out. | 20 gal+ |
Setup and care
| Heater | Usually no heater needed: bronze corydoras are fine from 68°F to 82°F, so most homes work. Add one if your room drops below 68°F. |
|---|---|
| Feeding | Varied diet of sinking dried foods plus live/frozen foods like bloodworm and Tubifex; not a tank cleaner |
| Substrate | Fine sand; rounded gravel acceptable if kept scrupulously clean |
| Males vs females | Females are slightly larger and have a higher body frame |
| Male:female ratio | 2 males per female |
- Do not add salt to the water
- Dorsal, pectoral and adipose fins have a sharp barb and mild poison
- Pectoral spines can pierce skin and cause a painful sting; handle with care
- Do not rely on them to clean the tank or live on leftovers
- Provide cover for security
- Sensitive to salt; do not add salt as a treatment or tonic
Care tips
- Keep at least 5 together, since bronze corydoras are happiest in a group.
- Choose fine sand, or rounded gravel only if you keep it scrupulously clean, to protect their barbels from damage.
- Add hiding places such as bogwood, caves and large plants so they feel secure.
- Never add salt to the water, as this species is sensitive to it, and feed them directly rather than counting on them to clean up leftovers.
Questions
Do bronze corydoras need a heater?
They tolerate temperatures from 68 to 82°F, and do best between 70 and 81°F. If your room keeps the tank water within that range, you may not need a heater; if it doesn't, a heater will help keep it there.
What do bronze corydoras eat?
They are omnivores and do best on a varied diet of sinking dried foods plus live or frozen foods like bloodworm and Tubifex. They are not tank cleaners, so don't rely on them to live on leftovers.
What fish can live with bronze corydoras?
Our checks found no problems with angelfish, betta fish, ember tetras, guppies, neon tetras, platies, tiger barbs, pygmy corydoras, panda corydoras or other bronze corydoras. Use caution with adult common goldfish, which may eat small bronze corydoras, and with fancy goldfish, which grow much larger, produce heavy waste and eat the food meant for bottom dwellers.
Can bronze corydoras live with shrimp and snails?
Zebra nerite snails are fine with them. Cherry shrimp need caution, because bronze corydoras eat baby shrimp and may pick off adults, though dense plants and moss help a colony survive.
How many bronze corydoras should I keep, and how do I tell males from females?
Keep a group of at least 5, ideally with 2 males per female. Females are slightly larger and have a higher body frame. Handle them with care if you ever need to, because the sharp spines on their fins can pierce skin and cause a painful sting.
Sources
Each value is cross-checked across the references below. Where they disagreed, an editor chose a value and recorded why.
- Bronze corydoras (en.wikipedia.org)
- Corydoras aeneus (Seriously Fish) (www.seriouslyfish.com)
- Comprehensive Guide to Keeping Corydoras Catfish (en.aqua-fish.net)
- Caresheets - Bronze Cory (Green Cory, Albino Cory) (www.fishkeeping.co.uk)
- GBIF taxonomy record
- Wikidata entry
Where each value comes from (18 facts)
| Fact | What each source says |
|---|---|
| Temperature | en.wikipedia.org: “Adequate conditions are a temperature range of 20 to 28 °C (68 to 82 °F)” seriouslyfish.com: “Temp 21–27°C70–81°F” fishkeeping.co.uk: “Water Temperature Range: 20-28°C” |
| pH | en.wikipedia.org: “pH of 6.0–8.0, and hardness of 2–30 DGH” seriouslyfish.com: “pH 6.0–8.0” fishkeeping.co.uk: “Water pH Range: 6.5-7.5” |
| Adult size | en.wikipedia.org: “The adult size is 6½ cm for males and a slightly larger 7 cm for females (2½ to 2¾ inches).” seriouslyfish.com: “Max size 75mm SL3.0in SL” fishkeeping.co.uk: “Maximum Size: 7cms” |
| Lifespan | en.wikipedia.org: “Their average life span is 10 years.” |
| Group size | en.wikipedia.org: “They prefer being kept in groups of 5 or more, being sociable fish” seriouslyfish.com: “Should be maintained in a group of at least 4-6 individuals.” fishkeeping.co.uk: “All Cories should be kept in groups of at least 6.” |
| Swims | en.wikipedia.org: “They ceaselessly comb the bottom of the aquarium for food” |
| Care level | en.wikipedia.org: “They are a hardy and useful aquarium fish” seriouslyfish.com: “Difficulty6 of 8 measuresEasy” |
| Diet | en.wikipedia.org: “Corys are easy to feed; they are omnivores and can eat a wide variety of flake and pelleted food” seriouslyfish.com: “Corydoras spp. are foraging omnivores and will accept most sinking dried foods” fishkeeping.co.uk: “Omnivorous. They will take most pellet food and algae wafers.” |
| Water type | en.wikipedia.org: “is a species of freshwater fish in the armored catfish family” |
| Breeding type | en.wikipedia.org: “the female glues the eggs to her chosen surface, using her pelvic fins to deposit them” seriouslyfish.com: “Eggs are normally deposited on the aquarium glass, but it's recommended to provide alternatives in the form of fine-leaved vegetation or fine spawning mops.” fishkeeping.co.uk: “Very easily achieved in a species tank.” |
| Native to | en.wikipedia.org: “It is widely distributed in South America on the eastern side of the Andes, from Colombia and Trinidad to the Río de la Plata basin” seriouslyfish.com: “Currently it's accepted to occur throughout much of South America from Colombia and Trinidad in the north as far south as the Río de la Plata drainage” |
| Hardness (GH) editor decision | en.wikipedia.org: “pH of 6.0–8.0, and hardness of 2–30 DGH” seriouslyfish.com: “Hardness 2–15dGH” fishkeeping.co.uk: “Water Hardness Range: 4-20 dGH” |
| Telling males from females | en.wikipedia.org: “Females have a slightly higher body frame than males in accordance with their larger abdominal region.” seriouslyfish.com: “Females tend to grow larger, and sexually mature individuals are noticeably rounder and broader-bodied than males, especially when gravid.” fishkeeping.co.uk: “The female is larger and slightly wider than the male. This is most apparent when she is gravid.” |
| Smallest tank | seriouslyfish.com: “Volume ~72litres~19US gal” fishkeeping.co.uk: “Minimum Tank Volume: 75 litres” |
| Temperament | seriouslyfish.com: “Peaceful and gregarious.” fishkeeping.co.uk: “These are peaceful fish which are compatible with most similar sized community fish.” |
| Male:female ratio | seriouslyfish.com: “Use a ratio of 2 males per female if possible” fishkeeping.co.uk: “use a 2:1, male:female ratio for best results” |
| Substrate | seriouslyfish.com: “Ideally use a substrate of fine sand, although rounded gravel is an acceptable alternative provided it's kept scrupulously clean.” fishkeeping.co.uk: “Sand substrate to allow them to dig without injury.” |
| Feeding | seriouslyfish.com: “Under no circumstances should they be expected to survive on 'left-overs' from other inhabitants of the aquarium or relied on to 'clean' the aquarium.” fishkeeping.co.uk: “They will take most pellet food and algae wafers. Also like live and frozen foods such as bloodworm and daphnia.” |
Editor decisions (1)
- Seriously Fish 2–15, Maidenhead 4–20, Wikipedia 2–30 dGH; 2–15 dGH suits them well.