Feeding Pygmy Cory is no biggy. In the wild, they nibble on micro food available within their reach. Whereas, in the aquarium, you can feed them a wide variety of meals such as: grindal worms. freeze dried tubifex & black worms.
What do you feed a pygmy corydoras?
You can feed Pygmy Corydoras absolutely anything since they are omnivorous. Feeding them vegetables along with some live food is the best way to get them healthy. You must give them the variety they need in their diet for nutrition.
How to take care of pygmy Cory fish?
As in many fish, Pygmy Cory also eats up its young ones. So it is a good option to create a fry tank so that you can care for them better. After the eggs hatch, you will see the fries floating in the water. You have to be very attentive to look for the small fries that are not quite visible.
Are pygmy cory catfish algae eaters?
Many mistake Pygmy Cory Catfish for algae eaters. But it is not accurate, and you have to add more variety to their diet than just plant-based food.
What is the best food for catfish?
The easiest, most accessible, and affordable food option for your Catfish is dry food. Pellets and wafers are the best options as they are water sinkable and available in most pet stores.
Do you need to feed pygmy corys?
If you want your Pygmy Cories fry to grow fast, you need to feed them 2 times a day and also do 50% water changes 2 times a week. This way they will almost halve of the inch (1.5 cm) long only in 2 months.
How much do Pygmy Corydoras eat?
Pygmy Cory should typically be fed once every day. All you have to do is serve your Cory's the amount of food you can consume in 5 minutes. It's fine to give them once-twice a day at most.
Are Pygmy Cory bottom feeders?
Like others in the genus, they have a unique teardrop-shaped body with a large head. An under-turned mouth with barbels helps them find food at the bottom of their habitat. What is this? In terms of color, Pygmy Cory Catfish have a well-defined stripe of thick black.
Do cory catfish need their own food?
You only have to feed your Corys the quantity they can eat in five minutes. Feeding them once, or at most, twice a day is okay. They will spend the rest hours scavenging and getting foods for themselves, even when other fishes can't.
Are pygmy corydoras hard to keep?
Not only are the Corydoras pygmaeus interesting fish to watch, but their small size, easy care requirements, and peaceful demeanor make them a good fish for beginners and experienced fishkeepers alike.
Will pygmy corys eat shrimp?
This species is very popular with many shrimp keepers due to its exceptionally small size and peaceful disposition. The Pygmy Cory Catfish is a very peaceful schooling fish that is compatible with most nano aquarium animals. It might eat dwarf shrimp fry, but is generally safe to keep with adult dwarf shrimp.
Do corydoras eat fish flakes?
The cory catfish diet includes various different types of food. This can include fish flakes and fish pellets, as well as bottom feeder pellets too. These fish are scavengers and they do often eat all sorts of leftovers, but their diet cannot consist of just this. Some high quality bottom feeder food is recommended.
Do pygmy corys need a heater?
Pygmy Cory would enjoy swimming through a carpet of Dwarf Hairgrass, but taller plants like Amazon Swords and Java Fern work well too. Set your heater to 72-79°F, and make sure the pH stays within 6-8. The only other pieces of equipment you need are an efficient filter and standard aquarium lighting.
Do cory catfish eat flakes?
Fish Flakes A good flake is somewhat of an essential staple if your Cory cats are in a community tank. You can use the flakes to distract your other fish so you can feed your Cory directly, and any leftover flakes that sink to the bottom can be eaten up by your Cory, too.
What are cory catfish favorite food?
They love worms of all types, so try live blackworms, frozen bloodworms, and Hikari Vibra Bites (tiny food sticks that look like bloodworms). They also enjoy Repashy gel foods, sinking wafers, and other sinking community foods.
Do cory catfish eat fish poop?
No fish eats poop. However, catfish like corydoras and bristle nose and sometimes snails or shrimps are referred to as “clean up crew.” You bring them into your tank to clean it off of dirt or poop. This cleaning method is said to be ineffective and people's lazy way of maintaining a fish tank.
Do corydoras need sand?
A corydoras natural habit is a sandy river bottom. Corydoras have evolved to feed by sifting sand through their gills to get at the tiny morsels of nutrients in the sand. With gravel, even fine gravel, the corys have nothing to sift through.
Is 4 pygmy corys enough?
Pygmy Cory is tiny fish that are great for a small aquarium. 10 gallons is the minimum size for a group of 4-8 individuals, increase this size if you want a larger group. Each additional fish only needs about 2 gallons to be comfortable.
How many pygmy corys are in a gallon?
In a 10 gallon tank, you can keep approximately 10 pygmy corys. This is assuming that it is a species specific tank with only pygmy corys in it. This is estimation is based on the general stocking guideline of “1 inch of fish per 1 gallon of water.” Keep in mind that each aquarium setup is different.
How many corydoras are in a 10 gallon?
You can put between two and four cory catfish in a 10-gallon tank. A one-inch cory catfish generally requires at least one gallon of water to live comfortably. Depending on the species, cory catfish can grow to be 2–4 inches long. Keep that in mind when considering your tank size and how many corys to bring home.
How big do Pygmy corydoras get?
Nicknames: Pygmy Corydoras, Pygmy Catfish, Pygmy Fish. Color Forms: Silver with a solid black horizontal stripe across their body. Size: 0.75-1.2 inches.
What is a pygmy cory catfish?
Today, we will be talking about Pygmy Cory Catfish (Corydoras pygmaeus). Pygmy Cory is a peaceful and miniature fish species commonly found in freshwater aquariums, they are quite popular in the hobby and due to this reason you can easily find them in pet stores retailing for as low as $2.
How many males to female cory catfish?
Cory catfish stocking in a ratio of 2 males to every female produces the best results. The female usually holds a few eggs between her pelvic fins, where the male fertilizes them. After each spawning, the female will deposit eggs on the tank glass, often in an area where water flow is high.
What is the scientific name for a catfish?
The scientific name uses the Latin word pygmaeus which implies dwarf or pygmy. Corydoras pygmaeus is commonly known as Pygmy Corydoras (Pygmy Cory) and Pygmy Catfish. Corydoras pygmaeus is often mistaken for Corydoras hastatus; this is because at one point, hastatus was the only known miniature Corydoras species.
How big is a pygmy cory?
As the name suggests, Pygmy Cories are known to be very small. Females tend to range from 1 – 1.3 inches (2.5 – 3.2 cm) long whereas their male counterparts are even smaller, reaching just 0.75 inches (~2 cm).
What color is Pygmy Cory?
The body of Pygmy Cory is adorned by a silver coloration with a solid black line that runs horizontally all the way from the snout to the tail fin. This is accompanied by another thinner black line that runs lower down the body. Its upper part is visibly darker than the lower part.
Where did the pygmy catfish originate?
This fish species originates in tropical inland waters in South America and is commonly found in Madeira River basin in Brazil. The first scientific description of the fish species – Corydoras pygmaeus was published ...
Where do pygmy corys live?
Pygmy Cory is native to South America and they are widely distributed in inland waters: in Peru- in tributaries of the Nanay River, in Ecuador- in tributaries of the Aguarico River, and predominantly in Western Brazil – in tributaries of the Madeira River.
Pygmy Cory Natural Habitat and Origin
Pygmy Cory is the inhabitants of the rivers of South America. These fish are tropical freshwater fish. Thus, they can be found in freshwater tributaries like in the Madeira River, the Aguarico River, and the Nanay River. These rivers are in Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador.
The Appearance of Pygmy Cory
If we talk about the appearance of the pygmy cory, they appear to be small fish with silver bodies. You can clearly see the black line that goes from the center to the sizes of the fish. It is horizontal. Similarly, the black line also goes from the caudal peduncle to the tip of its nose. The cory catfish has black lines over its body.
Behavior & Temperament
Pygmy Cory is the most well-behaved fish. You can find the following behaviors to be common in the tropical community fish.
Average Pygmy Cory Size
The pygmy cory catfish is quite a small fish that can range up to an inch only. The length may vary according to the species’ gender. The ones that have the highest lengths reach up to 1.3 inches. However, it is a rare case as they are of an average height of 0.75 inches.
Lifespan
A pygmy copy is short-lived. It has a lifespan of around 3 years on average. But as mentioned before, you can definitely add up to its life expectancy if you take care of it better.
Pygmy Cory Care
Typically a pygmy cory is easy to care for. However, it does not mean that you do not have to show in any efforts to create a better place for it to live in. If you are able to maintain the appropriate tank size, water parameters, and decorations, you will be able to keep them happy.
Equipment For Pygmy Cory Tank
There are several pieces of equipment in the tank that can help you to care for the pygmy cory catfish better. These types of equipment assist in creating the best natural environment for the pet and to make them feel at home.
How many gallons of water do pygmy corys need?
The best thing about keeping Pygmy Corys is that you don’t need much in the way of tank size! They do just fine in aquariums as small as 10 gallons. That should suffice for a smaller group.
How big do pygmy cory catfish get?
The average size of a Pygmy Cory Catfish is about one inch. On the large end of the spectrum, they may grow to lengths of about 1.3 inches. But, those instances are rare (requiring a mix of luck and excellent care). Author Note: Females are usually around one inch long, while males typically hover closer to 0.75 inches.
What is a pygmy cory?
The Pygmy Cory is a member of the Corydoras genus. For a while, these fish were automatically lumped in with other small species of the Genus. Even today, it’s not uncommon to see Pygmy Corydoras with the wrong label at fish stores! These fish have a couple of defining characteristics that will help you identify them.
Why do pygmy cory fish have red sores?
However, the Pygmy Cory Catfish is thought to be more susceptible to a condition called red blotch disease. This health issue causes red bloody sores to appear all over the body. This disease is typically a byproduct of stress. Pygmy Corydoras can experience stress when water conditions become unstable.
How to keep a pygmy corydora safe?
To keep their delicate barbels safe, avoid gravel or rocks. Instead, stick to fine sand. The sand is safe, helping the fish avoid unnecessary injuries.
Why do pygmy corys need shoaling?
The Pygmy Cory needs a shoaling group to stay healthy. When kept alone, they fall prey to the unhealthy symptoms of stress. They’ll spend most of their time in hiding and exhibit sporadic behavior. With a larger group comes confidence and playfulness, which is what you want in a community fish.
Where do pygmy cory live?
Mimicking the Pygmy Cory’s natural habitat is always going to yield the best results. These fish live in rivers and tributaries throughout South America. The waters are warm, fairly cloudy, and full of life.
Food & Diet
In order to keep pygmy corys healthy with strong immune system, a varied diet is essential.
Do Pygmy Corys Eat Algae?
While pygmy corydoras may eat some algae, they need more than that to survive. As with other members of Corydoras genus, these freshwater catfish will not thrive on algae alone. They will readily eat algae wafers, but the plant-based foods are only a part of their dietary requirements.
Pygmy Corydoras Size
These are tiny fish, only growing up to 1.2 inches in length. The females tend to be bigger than the males, with the males averaging 0.75 inches.
How many pygmy corydoras should be kept together?
Pygmy corydoras should be kept in groups of 8 or more. In fact, the more of them you can add to their shoal the better. In the wild, they can be found shoaling in large numbers in the hundres. Similarly, a large group in an aquarium setting would help them feel safe.
Pygmy Cory Catfish Characteristics
The Pygmy Cory Catfish has a short, little body that’s a dark gray color along the top while fading to a lighter silver shade on its underside. It sports spots of orange and white all over that give it a very striking appearance.
Pygmy Cory Catfish Origin
Pygmy Cory Catfish come from swamps throughout South America where they live mostly on land inside hollow logs or underneath leaves during their waking hours before heading back out into the water at night.
Pygmy Cory Catfish Size
These little guys only reach a maximum length of about 2 inches, making them an incredibly easy species to house in a basic tank! They may be small but they’re also very active and love swimming around, especially when it comes time to eat dinner.
Pygmy Cory Catfish Colors and Markings
What we mentioned earlier about their spots being orange and white is completely true! In fact, these spots are even brighter when these fish are placed in an area with better lighting. And speaking of lighting, let’s quickly discuss the color variations you might see among the Pygmy Cory Catfish.
Pygmy Cory Catfish Tankmates
There are three major things you need to ask yourself before adding any fish to your tank.
Pygmy Cory Catfish Lifespan
Since their natural environment doesn’t tend to be very high in algae, many owners feed these guys a diet of sinking shrimp pellets or even beef heart since they’re so small! This results in a lifespan of around 3 – 5 years when you take proper care of them at home.
Pygmy Cory Catfish Diet and Feeding
Since the Pygmy Cory Catfish are from an area with hard water, you can assume they have a pretty healthy appetite! Some owners have also reported that their fish actually enjoy sinking pellets, so feel free to give them one or two during mealtime.
Where do pygmy corys live?
Pygmy Cory, from the sub-family Corydoradinae, is native to freshwater bodies of the Madeira River basin in Brazil. But you will find most of their population dwelling in the South American continent. It is also known as Pygmy Corydoras.
Why is my pygmy cory red?
The fish infected from this disease will have bloody red sores over their body, especially the belly. Low oxygen levels in the aquarium and stress caused by environmental conditions play the main factor in causing this disease.
Quick Stats
Scientific Name: Corydoras pygmaeus Care Level: Beginner Temperament: Peaceful Color Form: Silver with black horizontal lines Lifespan: Up to 3 years Size: Up to 1″ Diet: Omnivore Family: Callichthyidae Minimum Tank Size: 10 Gallons or more Tank Set-Up: Freshwater, sandy with hiding spots Compatible: Small peaceful community
Pygmy Corydoras Description
The homeland of the Pygmy Corydoras is South America. These Fishes live in large schools in silted areas in the tributaries of the Madeira River and streams with a slow flow, occasionally floating up to the surface to breathe air.
Feeding Pygmy Corydoras
In terms of feeding, Corydoras are picky and eat any living feed like tubule, artemia, daphnia, etc and dry feeds include tablets for bottom fish, cereals, pellets, etc.
Aquarium Maintainance
For the comfortable maintenance of Pygmy Corydoras, it is necessary to purchase a flock of 15 fishes.
Tankmates for Pygmy Corydoras
Pygmy corydoras are small and peace-loving fish. Pygmy Corydoras Tank Mates should be small and peace-loving as well like:
Breeding Pygmy Corydoras
Breeding Pygmy Corydoras is somewhat more difficult than other species. They can spawn in a common aquarium but in the absence of tankmates who might scare them or eat their eggs.
Species Summary
Appearance
Average Pygmy Cory Size
Lifespan
Pygmy Cory Care
Food & Diet
- This species, as well as others in the Corydora genus, are well-known algae-eaters. They have a healthy appetite for the green stuff and will actively consume any they come across! But contrary to popular belief, Pygmy Corys cannot survive on algae alone.They require some protein-rich food sources periodically as well. The key to achieving good hea...
Behavior & Temperament
Tank Mates
Breeding
Wrapping Up